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THE 



MILITARY JOURNALS 



OF TWO 



PRIVATE SOLDIERS, 

176 8-17 75, 



WITH 



NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES 

TO WHICH IS ADDED, 

A SUPPLEMENT, 

CONTAINING 

OFFICIAL PAPERS ON THE SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 



POUGHKEEPSIE: 
PUBLISHED BY ABRAHAM TOMLINSON, 

AT THE MUSEUM. 
IS55. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, 

By ABRAHAM TOMLINSON, 

In the Cli'rk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Southern 

District of New York. 



STEREOTYPED BY C. C. SAVAGE, C. A. ALVORD, PRINTER, 

13 Chambcre SUmI. K. Y. » Oolil Stmt, N. Y. 



<W 



4 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



Having been, for several years, engaged in the es- 
tablishment of a Museum in Poughkeepsie, I have, by- 
extensive travel and research, and by the kindness of 
many of my fellow-citizens in Dutchess county and 
elsewhere, obtained numerous objects, not only curious 
in themselves, but valuable as materials for history. 
Among these are two manuscript Journals, kept by com- 
mon soldiers, each during a single campaign, and writ- 
ten at periods seventeen years apart. One of these 
soldiers served in a campaign of the conflict known as 
the French and Indian War, which commenced a 
hundred years ago : the other soldier assisted in the 
siege of Boston, by the American army, in 1775 and 
1776. Believing that a faithful transcript of those 
Journals, given verhatim et literatim, as recorded by 
the actors themselves, might have an interest for Amer- 



6 ADVF.RTIvSEMENT. 

ican readers, as exhibiting the e very-day hfe of a com- 
mon soldier in those wars which led to the founding 
of our republic, I have yielded to the solicitations of 
friends, and the dictates of my own judgment and feel- 
ings, and in the following pages present to the public 
faithful copies of those diaries. 

Perceiving that much of the intrinsic value of these 
Journals would consist in a proper understanding of 
the historical facts to which allusions are made in them, 
I prevailed upon Mr. Lossing, the well-known author 
of the ''Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution,'^ to illus- 
trate and elucidate these diaries by explanatory notes. 
His name is a sufficient guaranty for their accuracy 
and general usefulness ; and I flatter myself that this 
little volume will not only amuse, but edify, and that 
the useful objects aimed at in its publication will be 
fully attained. With this hope, it is submitted to my 

fellow-citizens. 

Abraham Tomlinson. 

POUGHKEEPSIE MusEUM, December, 18/i4. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



The conflict known in America as the French and 
Indian War, and in Europe as the Seven Years' War, 
originated in disputes between the French and English 
colonists, in the New World, concerning territorial lim- 
its. For a century the colonies of the two nations had 
been gradually expanding and increasing in impor- 
tance. The English, more than a million in number, 
occupied the seaboard from the Penobscot to the St, 
Mary's, a thousand miles in extent; all eastward of 
the great ranges of the Alleganies, and far northward 
toward the St. Lawrence. The French, not more than 
a hundred thousand strong, made settlements along the 
St. Lawrence, the shores of the great lakes, on the 
Mississippi and its tributaries, and upon the borders of 
the gulf of Mexico. They early founded Detroit, Kas- 
kaskia, Vincennes, and New Orleans. 

The English planted agricultural colonies — the 
French were chiefly engaged in traffic with the In- 
dians. This trade, and the operations of the Jesuit 
missionaries, who were usually the self-denying pio- 
neers of commerce in its peneti-ation of the wilderness, 



8 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 

gave the French great influence over the tribes of a 
vast extent of country lying in the rear of the English 
settlements. 

The ancient quarrel between the two nations, origi- 
nating far back in the feudal ages, and kept alive by 
subsequent collisions, burned vigorously in the bosoms 
of the respective colonists in America, where it was 
continually fed by frequent hostihties on frontier 
ground. They had ever regarded each other with ex- 
treme jealousy, for the prize before them was supreme 
rule in the New World. The trading-posts and mis- 
sionary-stations of the French, in the far Northwest, 
and in the bosom of the dark wilderness, several hun- 
dred miles distant from the most remote settlements 
on the English frontier, attracted very little attention 
until they formed a part of more extensive operations. 
But when, after the capture of Louisburg, by the Eng- 
lish, in 1745, the French adopted vigorous measures 
for opposing the extension of British power in Amer- 
ica ; when they built strong vessels at the foot of Lake 
Ontario — made treaties of friendship with powerful 
Indian tribes — strengthened their fort at the mouth of 
the Niagara river — and erected a cordon of fortifica- 
tions, more than sixty in number, between Montreal 
and New Orleans, — the English were aroused to im- 
mediate and effective action in defence of the territo- 
rial limits given them in their ancient charters. By 
virtue of these, thev claimed dominion westward to 
the Pacific ocean, south of the latitude of the north 



• INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 9 

shore of Lake Erie ; while the French claimed a title 
to all the territory watered by the Mississippi and its 
tributaries, under the more plausible plea that they 
had made the first explorations and settlements in that 
region. The claims of the real owner — the Indian — 
were lost sight of in the discussion ; and it was a sig- 
nificant question asked by an Indian messenger of the 
agent of the English Ohio Company : "Where is the 
Indian's land? The English claim it all on one side 
of the river, and the French on the other : where does 
the Indian's land He ?" 

The territorial question was brought to an issue 
when, in 1753, a company of English traders and set- 
tlers commenced exploring the head-waters of the Ohio. 
The French opposed their operations by force. George 
Washington was sent by the Virginia authorities to re- 
monstrate with the French. It was of no avail. The 
English determined to oppose force to force ; and in 
the vicinity of the now-flourishing city of Pittsburg, m 
western Pennsylvania, the " French and Indian War" 
began. Provincial troops were raised, and armies came 
from England. Extensive campaigns were planned, 
and attempts were made to expel the French from 
Lake Champlain and the southern shore of Lake On- 
tario. Finally, in 1758, three armies were in motion 
at one time against French posts remote from each 
other — Louisburg, in the extreme east; Ticonderoga, 
on Lake Champlain; and Fort Du Quesne, where 
Pittsburg now stands. General Sir James Abercrom- 



10 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 

bie commanded the expedition against Ticonderoga, 
accompanied by young Lord Howe as his heutenant. 
The French were under the command of the marquis 
Montcalm, who was killed at Quebec the following 
year. The English and provincial troops rendezvoused 
at the head of Lake George, went down that sheet of 
water, attacked Ticonderoga, and were repulsed^ with 
great loss. It w^as this portion of that campaign in 
which the soldier served who kept the Journal given 
in the succeeding pages. It is a graphic outline pic- 
ture, in few and simple words, of the daily life of a 
common soldier at that time. 

During the campaign of 1759, Quebec was captured 
by the army under Wolfe ; Lord Amherst, more suc- 
cessful than Abercrombie, drove the French from Lake 
Champlain ; Sir William Johnson captured Fort Niag- 
ara ; and all Canada was in virtual possession of the 
English, except Montreal. That fell early in the Au- 
tumn of 1760 ; and the struggle for supremacy in 
America, between the French and English, was ended 

for ever. 

L. 



MILITARY JOURNAL FOR 1758. 



.^^//^/;^X/ ^ 




jt-^ ^^f^^t^'^J^^ 






7^ t^s /^T^se/2.i^-f'^^^% 

Fac-simile of a Portion of the Manuscript Jouknal. 

April 5 1758. I Lemuel Lyon of Woodstock Inlist- 
ed under Captain David holms of Woodstock in new- 
ingLand For this present Cannody Expordition* — I 
Received of Captain Holms £2.0s.,0d. 

May 30. Received £3-16-0. 

June, 2nd. We arrived at Colonal Maysons at 12 
o'clock and marched from their to Landardj Abits & 
Sero^ent Stone treated us their — then we marched to 
mansfield to Deacon Eldridgs about four o'clock — then 

* Canada expedition. 

t Landlord. The proprietor of an inn or tavern was universally 
called landlord. The title is still very prevalent. 



12 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

we marched to Bolton to Landard trils, and we gave 
7d a night for horse keeping. 

Wednesday 7th. We had Carts to press,* — then we 
marched of from their to Landard Strengs in Harford 
and from their to Landard Geds & had raw Pork for 
dinner — then we marched to Landard Crews and the 
Chief I lodges their — My mess lodged at a private 
house one Daniel CatHns. 

Thursday 8th. Marched of and arived at Landard 
Gessels and their we went to Brecfirst and then we 
marched from their to our stores in Litchfield:}: to Squire 
Sheldings and then to Landard Buels and lodged their 
and our Captain was sent for to a man in another Com- 
pany that had fits. 

Friday 9th. Then marched from their and we had 
nu teams presed their and we arrived at Landard 
Hollobuts in Goshen from their to widow Lefrsrets in 
Cornwellll and from their to Coles in Cainan§ & lodged 
their. 

Saturday 10th. Marched to Lawrences and from 
thence to Landard Bushes in Shefield 7 mile and went 
to diner — thence marched and arived at one Garnt Bur- 
ges and lodged their and our Ensign went to Prayer 
with us — 

* To take carts for the military service. Under martial law, any 
private property may be used for the public good. A just govern- 
ment always pays a fair price for the same. 

t Probably General Lyman, who was the commander-in-chief of 
the Connecticut forces at that time. 

I In Litchfield county, Connecticut. || Cornwall. § Canaan. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 13 

Sonday 11th. Marched into the Paterroon Lands* 
to Landard Lovejojs & went to diner had a hard 
shower then marched into Cantihookf to one Hayer 
Cams the Stone house & lodged their & from thence 
to Cantihook Town to one Bushes and slept their. 

Monday 12th. At Cantihook. 

Tuesday 13th. Marched and arived at the half way 
house in Albany & Bated, & then into Green Busht 
by Son down and lodged their in Ranslays Barn. 

Wednesday 14th. Stil at Albany and their I first 
shifted my clothes and washed them — then we had 6 
rounds of powder & ball & had orders from Colonel 
Whiting to go to Senakada|| — this day Asel Carpenter 
came to Albany. 

Thursday 15th. We went over the River Early to 
receive our rations in provision and in money and we 
marched 2 Miles and stoped and refreshed ourselves 
their half an hour and Lieut. Smith came up and we 
received our Abilitan money. i^ 

Friday 16th. We had Prayers in our company at 3 

* Livingston's manor, in Columbia county. The estates of Liv- 
ingston, Van Rensselaer, and others, who received grants of land 
from government, on certain conditions, in order to encourage immi- 
gration and agriculture, were called Patroon Lands, and the proprie- 
tors were entitled Patroons, or patrons. 

t Kinderhook. 

I Now East Albany, on the east side of the Hudson river. 

li Schenectady. 

§ Billeting-money — that is, money to pay for lodgings at private 
houses. When soldiers are quartered at private houses, it is said 
that such ones are billeted at such a house, &c. 



14 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

Ock then all marched of but 14 and they stayed here 
to guard Lieut Smith and the money and yesterday 
Mr. Holmes sot of for Home and I giv 5 pence for 
earring my letter — we stayed here til 5 oclock this 
afternoon and we heard nothing from Lieut Smith and 
we had no provisions so we marched for Scanacata* 
and we got in at Son down well & their was a Larromf 
this night. 

Saturday 17th. Stil at Schenacata^ and we moved 
into our Barrocks and Barnabas Evings was taken 
poor with a working in the Body Ben denny was taken 
very poor. 

Sonday 18th. I was first called upon guard with 15 
more. My turn came first at 11 oclock — this after- 
noon 3 ock Lieut. Smith come up with our abilitan 
money. 

Monday 19th. Stil at Schenacata and their was a 

rigiment of province menjl come up to Schenacata and 

• this nio^ht 25 of our men went over the River west 1 

, mile to guard wagon Horses — this day a short training 

1 Regiment. 

Tuesday 20th. Their marched of 3 Hundred of the 
Bay Forces§ for Fort Edward^ and I received my 
abilitan in full £1.8s.0d. 

* Schenectady. t Alarum, or alarm. | Schenectady. 

II Provincial troops, or American soldiers. The English troops 
were called regulars. 

§ Massachusetts Bay troops. The Massachusetts colony was called 
Massachusetts Bay until after the War for Independence. 

^ Fort Edward was situated upon the east bank of the Hudson, 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 15 

Wednesday 21st. Stil hear and we were imbodied 
for prayers in the morning and then trained a httle. 
Corperal Carpenter was taken poor. 

Thursday 22d. Had orders to march to the half 
moon* and Captain Leneses company to & at 7 oclk 
we marched and arivd at Tess-ceunef and Lods'ed 
their at Landard Abraham Grotes. 

Friday 23d. Marched in the rain and very gresy 
traviUng it was and we Arivd at Teburth and from 
thence to the place cald Lowdins Ferryl to Landard 
Fungdors and from thence to the half moon & Lodged 
their. *- 

Saturday 24th. I received a Letter from John at the 
half moon and from thence we marched & Arived at Stil 
Waterll & Lodged their & Barnabas Evings was poor. 

about fifty miles north of Albany. The fort was built by General 
Lyman, of Connecticut, in 1755, while that officer was encamped 
there with about six thousand troops, awaiting the arrival of General 
William Johnson, the commander-in-chief of the expedition against 
the French at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. A portion of the site 
of the fort is now (1854) occupied by the flourishing village of Fort 
Edward. Some of the embankments are yet visible near the river. 
It was near this fort that Jane M'Crea was killed and scalped, in 1777. 

* Near Waterford, on the west side of the Hudson river, thirteen 
miles north from Albany. 

t Niskayuna, a short distance from Waterford, and remarkable as 
a settlement of Shaking Quakers. 

I On the Mohawk, about five miles above Cohoes Falls. It was 
the chief crossing-place for troops on their way north from Albany. 
There the right wing of the American army, under Arnold, was en- 
camped, while General Schuyler was casting up entrenchments at 
Cohoes Falls, a few weeks before the Saratoga battles, in 1777. 

II Stillwater is on the west bank of the Hudson, in Saratoga coun- 
ty, twenty-four miles north from Albany. The battle of Bemis's 



16 MILITARY JOUKiNAL. 

Sonday 25th. We got 2 Battoes* to carry our packs 
up to Salatoguef and we went a foot & 8 of our men 
were draun out to stay at Salatogue — Captain Lewis 
shot at an Indian and kild him & sot in the Battoe — 
from Salatogue we marched on to Fort Miller:|: and 
Lodged their. 

Monday 26th. Rainy and wet — I come up the River 
in a Battoe to Fort Edward to the incampment — their 
we drad l a pound of powder and 10 Bullets a peace 
and 8 days provision in order for to march to the Lake|| 
— Barnabas Evings was very poor with fever nago^ 
and was forst to stay behind & David Bishop with 
him — we Lodged in Bush tents and very wet it was. 

heights was fought near there, in 1777, and is sometimes known as 
the battle of Stillwater. Opposite the mouth of the Hoosick river, 
at Stillwatev, was a stockade, called Fort Winslow. 

* A batteau is a kind of scow or flat-boat, used on shallow streams 
like the Hudson above Waterford. 

t Saratoga. This settlement was near the mouth of the Fish 
creek, on the south side. The village of Schuylerville is- just across 
the stream, on the north side. On the plain, in front of the village 
of Schuylerville, was a regular quadrangular fortification, with bas- 
tions, called Fort Hardy. It was erected in 1756, and named in 
honor of the governor of New York at that time. 

J On the west side of the Hudson, six or eight miles below Fort 
Edward. The river is there broken by swift rapids. During this 
campaign. Major (afterward General) Putnam was here surprised by 
a party of Indians, and boldly descended the rapids in a canoe, and 
escaped. It was a feat they never dared to attempt, and they felt 
certain that he was under the protection of the Great Spirit. Here 
a stream called Bloody Run enters the Hudson. It is so named 
because a party of soldiers from the garrison, in 1759, went there 
to fish, were surprised by the Indians, and nine were killed and 
scalped, || Lake George. § Fever-and-ague. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 17 

Tuesday 27th. Marched all of Colonel Phiches* 
Regiment that were hear with 3 teams to carry the offi- 
cers we arrived at the half way Brookf and their a 
great percel stash ond for a Vv^hile & from thence we 
Marched to Lake George and went over upon the hill 
East & their Encamptt one with myself went upon 
guard this night. 

"Wednesday 2Sth. We cleard our ground and pitchd 
our tents I sent 2 letters home. 

Thursday 29th. Stil here General Limon^ & Colonel 
Phiches Regiments come up to the Lake this day I 
washed my Cloths 1 more rigiment come up. 

Friday 30th. This day there was a very unhapy mis- 
hap fel out in the province forces & that was i * * * * 
shot one * * * * partly through the body but did not 

* Fitch's. 

t Afterward called Snook's creek. It enters tlie Hudson three 
miles below Fort Edward. 

J General Phineas Lyman, who built Fort Edward. He was a 
native of Durham, Connecticut, where he was born in 1716. He 
completed his education at Yale college, and afterward became an 
eminent lawyer. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Con- 
necticut forces in 1755, and in the expedition to Lake George de- 
served all the honor awarded to General Johnson, who was jealous 
of Lyman's abilities as a soldier. Lyman did his duty nobly, and 
was but little noticed. Johnson was unfit for his station, but being 
a nephew of Sir Peter Warren, then a popular English admiral, he 
received the honor of knighthood, and the sum of twenty thousand 
dollars, for his services in that campaign ! General Lyman served 
with distinction until the close of the campaign in 1760, and in 1762 
commanded the American forces sent against Havana. He was in 
England about eleven years, and, after his return, went with his 
family to the Mississippi, where he died in 1788. 

2 



18 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

kil him the man which was shot Uved at Bridgwater to 
day they drawd out 9 men to go in Battoes up the 
Lake. 

Saturday July 1st. Colonel Worster* & his rigiment 
came up to day & 3 of our sick men 1 of them Brot 
nuse that one man shot another by accident at Sche- 
nacata & an hour after he died to day our Chaplingf 
came up & 1 of Magor Rogers^: men came in that had 

* Colonel David Wooster, of Connecticut, the eminent general of 
the Revolntion, who was killed at Ridgefield, while engaged in the 
pursuit of Tryon, after the burning of Danbury, in the spring of 
1777. He was born in Stratford, Connecticut, in March, 1710, grad- 
uated at Yale college in 1738, and soon afterward received the ap- 
pointment of captain of a vessel of the coast-guard. He was in the 
expedition against Louisburg in 1745. He afterward Avent to Eng- 
land, where he was a favorite at the court of George II., and re- 
ceived the appointment of captain in the regular service, vmder Sir 
"William Pepperell. He was promoted to a colonelcy in 1755, and 
rose to the rank of brigadier before the close of the French and 
Indian war. He was one of the most active men in getting up the 
expedition against Ticonderoga, in 1775, which resulted in the cap- 
ture of that fortress, and also Crown Point, by Colonel Ethan Allen 
and Benedict Arnold. Wooster was appointed one of the first brig- 
adiers of the continental army, in 1775, and third in rank. He was 
also appointed the first major-general of the militia of his state, when 
organized for the War for Independence ; and in that capacity he 
was employed, with Arnold, Silliman, and others, in repelling Brit- 
ish invasion in 1777. He lost his life in that service. His remains 
were buried at Danbury ; and in 1854 a monument was erected over 
his grave by his grateful countrymen, at the expense of his native 
state. 

t Chaplain, 

J Commander of a corps of rangers, who performed signal services 
during the greater part of the French and Indian war. He wns tlie 
son of an Irishman, an early settler of Dunbarton, in Xew Ilanip- 
shire. He was appointed to his command in 1755, and was a thor- 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 19 

bin gorn 7 days & Expected to be gorn but 2 he was 
so beat out that he could not tel what had becom of 
tother. this night I went upon a batto and guarded 
Colonel Phiches Tub of Butter. 

Sonday 2. In the fore noon I went to meting & 
heard Mr. Eals his text was in the 5th Chapter of 
James 16th verse a good sermon I rote a letter & 
sent home & in the after noon to meeting again. 

Monday 3d. Yesterday Mager puimons S Company 
came up and this morning Mager putnom* come up 

ougli scout. In 1759, he was sent by General Amherst to destroy 
the Indian village of St. Francis. In that expedition he suffered 
great hardships, but was successful. He served in the Cherokee 
war in 176 1, and in 17G6 was appointed governor of Michiliraacinac, 
where he was accused of treason, and sent to Montreal in irons. He 
was acquitted, went to England, and, after suffering imprisonment 
for debt, returned to America, where he remained until the Revo- 
lution broke out. He took up arms for the king, and in 1777 went 
to England, where he died. His " Journal of the French and Indian 
War" is a valuable work. 

* Israel Putnam, afterward the Revolutionary general. He was 
born in Salem, Massachusetts, in January, 1718. He was a vigor- 
ous lad, and in 1739 we find him cultivating land in Pomfret, Con- 
necticut, the scene of his remarkable adventure in a wolf's den, so 
familiar to every reader. He was appointed to the command of 
some of the first troops raised in Connecticut for the French and 
Indian war in 1755, and was an active ofiicer during the entire 
period of that conflict, especially while in command of a corps of 
rangers. He was ploughing in his field when the news of the skir- 
mishes at Lexington and Concord reached him. He immediately 
started for Boston,-and, at the head of Connecticut troops, was active 
in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was one of the first four major- 
generals of the continental army appointed by Congress in June, 
1775, and he was constantly on duty in important movements until 
1779, when a partial paralysis of one side of his body disabled him 



20 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

and the Connetticuts rigiment were Imbodied for to 
learn how to form your front to the Right and left for 
Jineral Abbacromba* and his A de Camp to vieu. 

Tuesday 4. This day I cut my hat and received my 
amanition and provision, for 4 days and made radey for 
to go on. 

Wednesday 5th. This day the Army by son rise got 
ready for to March and Marched of by Water, and 
Arived at the Saberday pointj & stayed their til mid- 

for military service. He lived in retirement after the war, and died 
at Brooklyn, Windham county, Connecticut, on the 29th of May, 
1790, at the age of seventy-two years. 

* General James Abercrombie, the commander-in-chief of the 
campaign. He was descended from an ancient Scotch family, and, 
because of signal services on the continent, was promoted to the 
rank of major-general, the military art having been his profession 
since boyhood. He was superseded by Lord Amherst, after his 
defeat at Ticonderoga, and returned to England in the spring of 
1759. 

t Sabbath-day Point. This is a fertile little promontory, jutting 
out into Lake George from the western shore, a few miles from the 
little village of Hague, and surrounded by the most picturesque 
scenery imaginable. It was so named, at this time, because it was 
early on Sunday morning that Abercrombie and his army left this 
place and proceeded down the lake. There a small provincial force 
had a desperate fight with a party of French and Indians, in 1756, 
and defeated them. Abercrombie's army went down the lake in 
batteaux and whale-boats, and reached the Point just at dark. Cap- 
tain (afterward General) Stark relates that he sup])cd with the young 
lord Howe that evening, at the Point, and that the nobleman made 
many anxious inquiries about the strength of Ticonderoga, the coim- 
try to be traversed, &c., and, by his serious demeanor, evinced a 
presentiment of his sad fate. He was killed in a skirmish with a 
French scout two days afterMard. His body was conveyed to Al- 
bany, in charge of Captain (afterward General) Philip Schuyler, and 
buried there. He was a brother of the admiral and general of that 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 21 

night then Marched again to the first narrows & Land- 
ed their and went down. 

Thursday 6th. 12 iV Clock at night we marched of 
again* & landed at the 1st narrows & then we Marched 
on to the fallsf within 2 miles of the fort and there we 
was attackt by the Enemyt and the Engagement held 

name, who commanded the British naval and land forces in America 
in 1776. 

* "The order of march," says Major Eogers, " exhibited a splen- 
did military show." There were sixteen thousand well-armed troops. 
Lord Howe, in a large boat, led the van of the flotilla, accompanied 
by a guard of rangers and expert boatmen. The regular troops oc- 
cupied the centre, and the provincials the wings. The sky was clear 
and starry, and not a breeze ruffled the dark waters as they slept 
quietly in the shadows of the mountains. Their oars were muffled, 
and, so silently did they move on, that not a scout upon the hills 
observed them ; and the first intimation that the outposts of the 
enemy received of their approach was the full blaze of their scaiiet 
uniforms, when, soon after sunrise, they landed and pushed on tow- 
ard Ticonderoga. 

t Rapids in the stream which forms the outlet of Lake George into 
Lake Champlain. Here are now extensive saw and grist mills. 
The distance from the foot of Lake George to Fort Ticonderoga is 
about four miles. 

I The English lacked suitable guides, and became bewildered in 
the dense forest that covered the land. Lord Howe was second in 
command, and led the van, preceded by Major Putnam and a scout 
of one hundred men, to reconnoitre. The French set fire to their 
own outpost, and retreated. Howe and Putnam dashed on through 
the Avoods, and in a few minutes fell in with the French advanced 
guard, who were also bewildered, and were trying to find their way 
to the fort. A smart skirmish ensued, and, at the first fire. Lord 
Howe, another ofiicer, and several privates, M^ere killed. The 
French were repulsed, Avith a loss of about three hundred killed, and 
one hundred and forty made prisoners. The English battalions were 
so much broken, confused, and fatigued, that Abercrombie ordered 
them back to the landing-place, where they bivouacked for the night. 



22 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

1 hour and we kiled and took upwards of 2 & 50, & 
of Captain Holn:ies Companj we had 3 Men wounded. 
Serpent Cada Serofent Arrnsba and Ensign Robbins & 
at Sondown the French come out again 5 thousand 
strong and our men came back ag^ain to the Landinoj 
place & Lodged their. 

Friday 7th. Majer Rogers went down to the mils 
and drove them of there from & kild and took upwards 
of 150 & at Son down the last of the Army marched 
down to the Mils and Majer putnom made a Bridge 
over by the Landing place this night we lodged by 
the Mils. 

Saturday 8th. Then marched back 2 or 3 rigiments 
to the Landing place to guard & help Get up Artillira 
and we worked all the fore noon onloadino^ the Battoes 
and at noon we set out down to the Mils with the Ar- 
tillira & we got near the Mils and we had orders to 
leave the Artillira* their and go back & get our arms 

* Tills was Abercrombie's fatal mistake. He sent an engineer to 
reconnoitre the fort and outworks. The engineer reported the latter 
to be so weak, in an unfinished state, as to be easily carried, without 
artillery, by the force of English bayonets. The difficulties in the 
way of heavy cannons, in that dense forest, were very formidable ; 
and Abercrombie was willing to rely upon sword and bayonet, on 
the strength of his engineer's report. That functionary was mis- 
taken ; and when the English approached the French lines, they 
found an embankment of earth and stones, eight feet in height, 
strongly guarded by abatis, or felled trees, with their tops outward. 
The English made a furious attack, cut pathways through these 
prostrate trees, and mounted the parapet. They were instantly 
slain, and thus scores of Britons were sacrificed, by discharges of 
heavy cannons. When two thousand men had fallen, Abercrombie 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 23 

and we went down to the Mils of our rigirnent 2 Hun- 
dred were ordered to go over on the point to keep the 
French from Landing their and we stayed while next 
morning son 2 hours high & when we came in all our 
army and Artillira was gorn back & the Mils fired and 
we marched back to the Landing place and had to se- 
cure matter of 200 Barrels of Flour & we heard the 
French were a coming upon us and we stove thern all 
and come of us as soon as we could and about 10 Ock 
we sot sail and & by Son down we arrived at Lake 
George* according to all accounts the Engagement be- 
gan about 10 clock and held 10 Hours steady and we 
lost 3 Thousand rigulars. 

Monday 10th. Stil at Lake George in our old en- 
campment 2 Cannon and 2 morter peaces all of them 
Brass come into Lake George to day. 

Tuesday 11th. I washed my Clothes to day had Tea 
for Brecfirst. 

sounded a retreat, and the wliole British army made its way to the 
landing-place at the foot of Lake George, with a loss of twenty -five 
hundred muskets. They went up the lake to Fort William Henry, 
and the Avounded were sent to Fort Edward and to Albany. At 
his own solicitation, Colonel Bradstreet was sent to attack the French 
fort Frontenac, where Kingston now stands, at the foot of Lake On- 
tario ; and General Stanwix proceeded to erect a fort toward the 
head-waters of the Mohawk, Avhere the village of Rome now flour- 
ishes. 

* The head of the lake was especially designated as " Lake 
George." There was the dilapidated fort William Henry, built by 
Sir William Johnson, in the autumn of 1755 ; and, about half a mile 
southeast from it. Fort George was afterward erected. The ruins 
of its citadel may yet (1854) be seen. 



24 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

Wednesday 12th. To day I was cald upon guard. 
Stephen Lyon went to Fort Edward. 

Thursday 13th. To day washed My Clothes. 

Friday 14th. Nothing remarkable. 

Saturday l5th. Nothing remarkable cald out to 
work. 

Sonday 16th. Went to meeting to hear Mr. Pomme- 
rai* &L his text was in the 16th Chapter of Isaiah the 
9th verce in the afternoon went to hear Mr. Eals and 
his text w^as in 4th Chapter of Amos & the 12th verce 
Sung the 45 Salm the last time sung the 44th Salm 
tbis day Colonel Dotays Rigiment marched of. 

Monday 17th. This day Sergent Joseph Mathers had 
a new shirt put on of 70 stripesf I washed and at night 
was caled upon the picket guard Barny went down to 
the halfway brook:}: and back again to guard Artillira. 

Tuesday 18th. One Samuel Jonson died very sud- 
denly he belonged to Captain Latimer Company of 
new Cannen, Nehemiah Blackmore was whipt 10 
stripes for fireing his gun. 

Wednesday 19th. This day to work upon the Hos- 
petal gitting timber to it I went upon the Island || to stay 
thair a week. 

* Pomeroy. 

t Flogging was facetiously tenned " putting on a new sliirt." 
Seventy lashes was a pretty severe punishment. 

I This was the outlet of three little lakes, situated about half way 
between the head of Lake George and the bend of the Hudson at 
Sandy Hill. They are the head-waters of Clear river, the west branch 
of Wood creek, which empties into Lake Champlam at Whitehall. 

II This was Diamond island, lying directly in front of Dunham's 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 25 

Thursday 20th. Stil at work Colonel Worster sot 
out to go down to Albany and a number of men with 
him this morning 10 Men w^ere a going to. the half way 
Brook to guard the Post and the Indians way laid them 
and kild 9 of them & 1 got in safe and they rallyd out 
from the Brook 100 & went back to see w^hat was the 
Matter and they laid wait for them & they fired upon 
the front first and kiled 2 Captains and 2 Leiutenants 
on the spot & our men were supprised and run back 
all but a few and they stood a little while & lost 17 
men the "enofao-ement beoran son 2 hours hiorh about a 
nowr after Leiut. Smith & 200 of our men went down 
to help guard the teames down to Fort Edward. 

Friday 21st. This day at knight Leiut. Smith came 
back & very poor he was the rest of the guard re- 
turned well. 

Saturday 22d. This day Colonel Partrages* rigiment 
were resolved to have their full Allowance or go of and 
they got itf — a small shower & at night our post came 
in and our Men that stayed behind came up I received 
a letter from Home. 

Sonday 23d. Went to meeting and the text was in 

bay, and not far from the village of Caldwell. It was so called be- 
cause of the number and beauty of quartz-crystals found upon it. 
Burgoyne made it a depot of military stores when on his way from 
Canada, by the way of Lake Champlain,in 1777. It was the scene 
of a sharp conflict between the little, garrison and a party of Ameri- 
cans under Colonel Brown, on the 25th of September, 1777, while 
Gates and Burgoyne were confronted at Saratoga. Brown was 
repulsed. 

* Partridge's. t They were volunteers. 



26 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 3 chapter of John & the 16 verse & in the after 
noon the Text was in the 6 chapter of Micah 6 & 7 
verses this day wet & hard showers. 

Monday 24th. This day a week ago Ensign Robins 
died at Albany this day Henry Morris came up to Lake 
George with 2 Waggon Loads of Rum and sold it 
right of- 

Tuesday 25th. Captain Holmes and 5 of our men 
went down to the half way Brook to be stashoued their 
til Furder orders- at 9 Ock one James Makmehoon* 
was hanged upon the galloes upon the top of the Rock- 
ka noosef our post came in and I was released from 
the Haspital work. 

Wednesday 26th. Majer putnom had orders to list 
400 ranjers and. listed some to day. 

Thursday 27th. This day tlie Captains of the Com- 
panys dravved out 9 men of a company for ranjers. 

Friday 28th. There was about 40 teams & wagons 
a coming up about half way between Forte Edward 
and half way Brook and a scout of French & Indians 
w^ay laid them and kiled every ox and destroyed all 
their stors every thing:}: and about midnight our camps 
were alarmd of it and Majer putnom rallyd about a 
1000 Men & went after them. 

Saturday 29th. Tiiis day Rogers went upon the track 

* M'Mahon 1 t This locality can not be identified. 

I Rogers, in his Joumal, speaks of this occurrence. He says it 
was on the 27th, and that one hundred and sixteen men were killed, 
of whom sixteen were rangers. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 27 

with his ranjers* and sent back for all the picket guard 
and they went & this day I was very poor & took a 
portion of fizik. 

Sonday 30th. This morning by break of day som of 
Majer putnoms men that he left with the Battoes spied 
some more a coming down the Lake and they com & 
told & Limon rallyd up about 2000 men and went up 
the Lake I was poor and w^ent to meeting Mr. Ingarsonj 
preach'd & his text was in salms the 83 & the 14 & 
15 & the after noon the text was in Duteronemy 32 & 
29 verse. 

Mon. 31st. 9 of our Newingland Men were put un- 
der ouard for makinor a false larrom about the battoes 
coming down upon us & also one regular that Rogers 
took that desarted last year to the French from us. 

Tuesday August 1st. Their was about 700 men v/ent 
down to the Half Way Brook to be stashond their and 
8 of our company and Captain Holmes came back. 

Wednes. 2. To day Jineral Limon came in of of a 
scout & the men that went with him and Rogers and 
putnom went of a scout with 14 or 15 hundred for 10 
daysf this day Craft died and was buried Stephen 
Lyon come of scout. 

* He went out witli seven hundred men, to intercept the maraud- 
ing party, but they escaped. 

t IngersoU. 

J Rogers says that, on his return from his attempt to intercept the 
marauding party, he was met by an express, with orders to march 
toward the head of Lake Champlain, at South and East bays, to 
prevent the French marching upon Fort Edward. There he was 
joined by Major Putnam and Captain Dalyell or D'EU. 



28 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

Thurs. 3rd. Two of our men went out a fishing for 
2 days but had poor luck. 

Friday 4th. We had orders to march to Fort Edward 
& I washed up my clothes. 

Sat. 5th. This morning about half our rigiment 
marched forward to build brest Works along upon the 
road in some bad places we arived at Fort Edward at 
9 O clock & we Built 2 Brest works. 

Sonday 6th. We drawd 3 days provision and this 
afternoon the Rest of our Rigiment came down and 
the teams that went up the day Before we received 
our pacet* of letters from home. 

Monday 7th. Cap.n & all that were able to go were 
ordered to guard down to Fort Miller and back again. 

Tues. 8th. In the morning we were drawd out for 
work and worked the fore noon then we were ordered 
to fix every Man in the rigiments to make ready, to go 
out to help Majer putnom and we met them a coming 
in about son down and we helpt them a long as far as 
we could & that nite & lay out that, nite & 3 of the 
wounded men died there and Ben Deny for one.f 

* racket. 

t A severe engagement took place qn Clear river, the west branch 
of Wood creek, about a mile northwest from Fort Anne village (then 
the site of a picketed blockhouse, called Fort Anne), between a party 
of rangers and provincials under Rogers, Putnam, and Captain Dal- 
yell, or D'Ell, and about an equal number of French and Indians 
under Molang, a famous partisan leader. The English troops were 
marching when attacked : Putnam was in front, Avith the provincials ; 
Rogers was in the rear, with his rangers ; and D'Ell in the centre, 
with the regulars. Molang attacked them in front, and a powerful 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 29 

Wed. 9th. We got in about 8 a clock & Buried the 
dead & the wounded were dresd Sl carried over on 
the Island* Powers came up with a load of Settlersf 
stores and treated us well. 

Thur. 10th. I was cald out to work upon the Block 
house this day our post went of home with our letters. 

Friday 11th. We went up to guard teams to Half 
Way Brook and to Build a Brest Work 36 Ox teams 
&- 6 Wagons. 

Sat. 12th. Colonel Phicht had a letter from Major 
putnom at tiantiroge|| he is taken prisoner.^ 

Indian rushed forward and made Putnam a prisoner. The provin- 
cials were thrown into great confusion, hut were rallied hy Lieuten- 
ant Durkee, who was one of the victims of the Wyoming massacre 
twenty years afterward. D'Ell, with Gage's light infantry, hehaved 
very gallantly, and the rangers finally put the enemy to flight. The 
latter lost ahout two hundred men. Colonel Prevost, then in com- 
mand at Fort Edward, sent out three hundred men, with refresh- 
ments for the party, and all arrived at Fort Edward on the 9th. 
This was the relief-party mentioned in the text, under date of 
the Sth. 

* This is an island in the Hudson, opposite Fort Edward, and 
known as Rogers's island. 

t Sutler's. f Fitch. || Ticonderoga. 

§ The Indian who seized Putnam tied him to a tree, and for a 
time he was exposed to the cross-fire of the combatants. His gar- 
ments were riddled by bullets, but, strange to say, not one touched 
his person. He was carried away in the retreat, his wrists tightly 
bound with cords. The Indians rejoiced over the capture of their 
great enemy, and he was doomed to the torture. In the deep for- 
est he was stripped naked, bound to a sapling, wood was piled high 
around him, the death-songs of the savages were chanted, and the 
torch was applied. Just then a heavy shower of rain almost extin- 
guished the flames. They were again bursting forth with fiercer 
intensity, Avhen a French ofiicer, informed of what was going on, 



30 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

Son. 13th. Day the chief of our men upon duty and 
the rest went to meetmo^ the afternoon the text was in 
the 2nd of timothy the 1st chapter & 10 verce. 

Mon. 14. I had nothing to du I rote a letter to 
John. 

Tues. 15. I was upon picit* guard &. wet and stormy 
it was 1 of the regalars whipt for sleping upon guard. 

Wednesday 16. The ranjers discoverd a scout of 
French & com in to Fort Edward and all that were 
able were ready at a minits warning to day I sent a 
Letter to John Lyon. 

Thursday 17th. w, p, 31 stripes stil & Nothing to 
do the Liev.ts fixed up their tents. 

Friday 18th. 6 of our men were ordered to go over 
to work upon the Block House over the river I was 
raly tired at night. 

Saturday 19th. I washed My clothes Col fitch at 
Salatogue. 

Sonday 20th. We were almost all out upon duty to 
work at the High Ways and in the after noon a very 
hard shower which sot our tents all aflote. 

Monday 21st. I went down to Foit Mizereyf & I 

darted through the crowd of yelling savages, and released the pris- 
oner, lie was delivered to ]\rontcahn at Ticonderoga, then sent to 
Montreal, and, after being treated kindly, Avas exchanged for a pris- 
oner tiiken by Colonel Bradstreet at Frontenac. 

* Picket. 

t Fort Misery was a breastwork at the niontli of Moses's kill, or 
creek, a short distance (Voin Fort Miller, on the east side of the 
Hudson. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 31 

heard of John Daj's death at Saletogue this day Morris 
came up and we hved well. 

Tuesday 22d. I went up the river to look for a horse 
Steven & I was cald upon picit guard. 

Wednesday 23d. I went out to look oxen and was 
treated well 1 mans gun went of and cut of his finger 
we drove out the 2 men out of the Block House kep 
the great Cattle. 

Thursday, 24th. I was cald out to guard up teams 
and to work on the road & had a Jil of rum for it 
Zachariah Catlin died at Fort Edward. 

Friday 25th. I was cald upon the quorter guard & 
we heard the great guns that were fired at the Lake* 
they shot at a mark and our Provinshals beat them & 
it made them very mad. 

Saturday 26. David Lyon and Barnes sot out to go 
to Albany sick this day they held a rigimental Court 
Mershal upon 3 deserters of Captain Mathers company 
one William Cannody & William Clemanon were 
Judged to have 1000 Lashes and to day receved 200 

6 50 stripes a peace tother was forgiven. 

Sunday 27. 1 was out upon the works at the great 
Block House we were out of provision we drawed for 

7 days & but 4 gorn so ihe regalers shot Pigeons and 
our men did so to. 

Monday 28th. Every Private in our company was 
out upon duty that was able, & about 4 a clock we 
came in and the orders were that every man should 
* At Fort George, at the liead of Lake George. 



32. MILITARY JOURNAL. 

make ready to fire 3 valleys* and first they fired the 
cannon at the Fort one after tother round the Fort 
which is 21 then the small arms & so 3 rounds a piece 
and then made a great fire on the Perrade and played 
round it & 1 Jil of Rum a man aloud for the froUic 
& a Barrel of Beer for a Company! a very wet 
knight. 

Tuesday 29th. Very wet in the Morning then cleared 
of cold I went upon duty and sent a Letter Home. 

Friday September ye 1st. Our duty was to help git 
out the Cannon out of the Bottom of the river that was 
dropt in by the means of going to near the end of the 
Brigt and sunk the scows and drownd 1 ox very cold 
work A woman whipt 70 stripes & drumed out of 
Camp. 

Saterday 2nd. I was cald upon the pickit guard to 
day last nite I went down to Fort Misketor|| & Smith 
Ainsworth treated us well. 

Sonday 3rd. I was out upon the escort and every 
man upon som duty I went to meeting part of the fore * 
noon and the text was in acts 24 & 25 Charles Ripla 
was put in Ensign. 

Monday 4th. Our Post sot of home I went down to 
Fort Misketor to guard teams and the Post and the 

* Volleys. 

t It was the king's birthday. The firing of twenty-one heavy 
guns formed a royal salute. 

} Bridge. 

II Fort Musquito was a breastwork cast up at the mouth of Snooks' 
creek. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 33 

Lobster's* and our men hopt & rassledt together to 
see which would beat and our men Beat. 

Tuesday 5th. Stil & Nothing strange. 

Wednesday 6th. Most all of our men upon duty I 
was to work a making a road to go up to the great 
Block House. 

Thursday 7th. All our men out upon works guar- 
din teams a ofreat number of them ni^h 100 & when 
we came back their was a scout com in to Fort Ed- 
ward that went out from the Lake they discoverd 
nothing. 

Friday 8th. This day sergent Erls w^ent out to Fort 
An:}: after the Con-nu|| & Lieut. Larnard & Ephraim 
Ellinghood Knap & John Richason and Jeb Brooks 
& Hezekiah Carpenter they 6 of our company 40 in 

* This was a nickname for the regular troops, who were dressed 
in scarlet uniforms. 

t Wrestled. 

f Fort Anne was erected in 1757, a year before the occuiTences 
here narrated took place. It was a strong blockhouse of logs, with 
portholes for cannon and loopholes for musketry, and surrounded by 
a picket of pine-saplings. When the writer visited the spot in 1848, 
he dug up the part of one of the pickets yet remaining in the earth, 
and, on splitting it, it emitted the pleasant odor of a fresh pine^og, 
though ninety years had elapsed since it was placed there. This 
fort was near tlie bank of Wood creek, about eleven miles from the 
head of Lake Champlain, at the village of Whitehall. It was in the 
line of Burgoyne's march toward the Hudson, in 1777 ; and near it 
quite a severe skirmish took place between Colonel Long, of Schuy- 
ler's army, and a British detachment under Colonel Hill, on the 8th 
of July, the day after Ticonderoga was abandoned to the enemy. 
Victory was almost within the grasp of Colonel Long, when his am- 
munition failed, and he was compelled to retreat. 

II Canoe, 



34 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

all went along I went to work at the high way & had 
half a pint of Rum for it. 

Saterday 9th. I was warned a quarter guard and I 
changed with Moses Peak and went upon the Escort 
& got in by 12 a clock I was warned out to work but 
did not do much sergent Erls com in with his Con-nu 
— and the Jineral was much pleased with it. 

Sonday 10. I was upon guard but went to meeting 
a part of the fore noon and the text was in the 24 of 
Acts & 25 verce & the Afternoon the text was in James 
the 6th & 12 verce. 

Monday 11. I took 4 days provision & Josh Barrit 
and one ranjer with me & we went out near fort An 
and we spied a fire and som person and we com back 
and made our report to the Jeneral & he blamed us 
som and said we should have a nev/ pilot and go again. 
Jo Downer put under guard. 

Tuesday 12th. I was freed from duty and we went 
& split out som plank to du up our tent. 

Wednesday 13th. To work in the Fort a wheeling 
gravel all day 4 regulars whipt in Fort som for garnino- 
& one for being absent after being warned upon guard. 

Thursday 14th. I was warned on Escort down to 
Mizzery* and flankt all the day Tuesday 12 at night 
there was 2 Bonfires & 2 Barrels of Rum aloud for the 
Rejoicing of Broad Street's taking Catarocrway.f 

* Fort Misery. 

t The Indian name of the site of Fort Frontenac (where Kings- 
ton, Upper Canada, now stands), taken hy Colonel Bradstreet, was 
Cataraqua. That was also the Indian name for Lake Ontario. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN AVAR. 35 

Friday 15th. Day I was to work over upon the Island 
& worked hard a shovling dirt &c Ephraim Elhnghood 
taken poorly. 

Saturday 16th. Day I went to cuting fassheens^ & 
stented 4 a peace in half a day & 12 stakes. 

Sonday 17th. All our men upon works Mr. Pomrif 
preachd 1 sermon & his text in James Chapter 5th & 
12 verce Stephen child had a post to Albany and sot 
out this day one regular com in that was a fishing at 
half way Brook. 

Monday 18th. I was to work over to the Block House 
and took my Farewel of working their & all our sick 
were drawd up & som dischargd. 

Tuesday 19th. 4 of our company had a final dis- 
charge from the Campain & sot of home Seth Bassit 
|f Jonathan Corbin John Peak & Silas Hoges. 

Wednesday 20th. Stil Here the main of us & Noth- 
ing remarkable only almost all our Woodstock men 
came up & with great Joy we recived them & much 
more the things that were sent us, I receved a letter 
from Ben Lyon. 

Thursday 21st. Nothing remarkable this day. 

Friday 22nd. Our Woodstock Old melisha:{: sot out 

r home & Lieutenant Smith & Corperal Peak & Wil- 

• liam Mercy & Samuel Leavins had a pass to Albany 

and went with them along down and Many more that 

did not Belong to our Company. 

* Fascines — bundles of sticks, mixed with earth, and used for 
filling ditches in the construction of forts. t Pomeroy. | Militia, 



36 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

Saturday 23d. Our Post came up and I received a 
Letter from home. 

Sonday 24th. Mr. Pomrj* preachd one sermon in 
the mddle of the day so that the work men might Have 
som opportunity to hear som his text was in Ezekiel 
the 37 Chapter & 36 verce I was to work upon the 
Island & I heard part of the sermon. f 

Monday 25. Nothing remarkable only Stephen Lyon 
got hurt Samuel Morris & Chub went dbwn along to 
Albany. 

Tuesday 26th. One scout went out for 3 days this 
day a great number of teams came down from the Lake. 

Wednesday 27th. The Thompson men that came up 
to see us sot out for newingfland and serpent Cromba 
had a pass to Albany & went down along. 

Thursday 28th. Nothing remarkable only the scout 
came in that went out for 3 days. 

Friday 29th. Nothing remarkable only very long or- 
ders &c. 

Saturday 30th. Nothing remarkable only the criss- 
ningt of the Royal Block House and the whole of our 
rigiment that were able went over to work and had a 
good frolick to drink the Men in Jeneral worked well 
at the intrenching round the Block House the trench 
3 foot deep. 

* Pomeroy. 

t The channel between Rogers's island, on which the great block- 
house was built, and Fort Edward, does not exceed two hundred feet 
in width. 

I Christening. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 37 

Sonday October ye 1st. Nothing remarkable but 
somthing Yery strange. & that is the Camps were so 
stil and no work going foward nor no prayers nor no 
sermon & a Jil of Rum into the Bargain this we had 
from the Jenerals our month promised to us yesterday 
Mr. Pomri went down to Seratoga to see his son that 
was sick and to day he come back &c. 

Monday ye 2nd. All the rigiment that were able to 
work went over to the Block House besides what wos 
upon guard and they were divided into 4 parties and 
they that got don first was to have the Best fat sheep 
1 sheep to each party I was upon the grass Guard & 
at night I fotmd it very tedious Lying out for it stormed 
excedinof hard all night. 

Tuesday ye 3rd. Our mes being all of duty we made 
us up 2 Straw bunks for 4 of us to lay in and as it hap- 
ened we did it in a good time for it was a very cold 
night. 

Wednesday ye 4th. Being very cold Corperal San- 
5 ger & Eliezer Child had a pas down to Albany & Like- 
wise a small scout went for Number four & we made 
/ our chimney serjant Kimbal was broke and turned into 
the ranks. 

Thursday 5th. Jeneral Ambross* arrived at Fort Ed- 
ward about 12 a clock & immediately he went of to 
the Lake nothing more remarkable to day. 

Friday 6th. Henry Lyon and Ephraim Ellinghood 
poorly and cleared from duty 3 men whipt about 3 
* General Amherst. 



3S MILITARY JOURNAL. 

hundred lashes apeace & 1 woman 2 & 60 Lashes on 
bear rump. 

Saterday 7th. Our Picket v/ent up toward the Half 
way brook to meet jeneral Ambros* & about 3 a clock 
he arrived at Fort Edward and at 2 a clock the pick- 
et went down with him again and his wagon & 6 
horses. 

Sonday 8. In the fore noon all our men upon works 
in the afternoon we were aloud to attend meeting & 
Mr Pomyt Preached one sermon &/ his text was in 
Ezekiel 36 & 37 verce our family this day had a great 
rariryty for diner and that was a Bild Puden. 

Monday 9. Nothing remarkable among us this day. 

Tuesday 10. I was upon Guard and a very stormy 
day &. Night it was orders came out strickt that all 
fires should be put out by 8 of the clock in the morn- 
ing and not to have no more til 6 at night & they that 
dont obey the orders are to have their chimney tore 
down Sl not to have no other during this campaign 
Colonel Fitch lost a Barrel of wine. 

Wednesday 11th. Stil warm & wet soni of our Rigi- 
ment discharged Home but none of our company. 

Thursday 12. A very clear cold morning all our men 
upon works «&/ upon guard that were able Colonel 
Harts Rigiment of the Hampshier march down to Fort 
Edward in order for Home. 

Friday 13th. All our men upon works again to day 
I 3 dischargd vis Richard jordin, Stephen Lyon &l John 
* Amherst. t Pomeroy. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAU. 39 

Howlet, at night 300 of the Bay men came down sick 
& 2 of them that carrad their packs died in the night. 

Saturday 14th. All warned out upon works but the 
stormy wether defeted them in it the Regulars which 
came down from the Lake with us have orders to 
march next friday down along in order for their winter 
quorters at Hallefax* this night the sentry which stood 
at the Southerd of the store House spied a man a git- 
ting of Flour and he haild him 3 times but he would 
not stop and the sentry fired but did not hit him & in 
his hurry he left his torn me hawkf &/ one shoe. 

Sonday ye 15. Very cold all upon works &/ guard 
by son rise this evening their came in a great number 
of teams Sl Samuel Peak Brought the malancoly news 
of Stephen Childs being Kilde and skulpt+ and another 
Captivated I was out upon the grass guard. 

Monday 16th. All upon works &. all the teams sot 
of for the Lake 12 men taken from the quorter guard 
to guard teams this evening there came in a great num- 
ber of w^agro-ons and hundred or better. 

Tuesday 17th. Being very pleasant in the Morning 
then showery &l wet all the rest of the day til 10 a 
clock at knight — about 12 oclock at mg-ht the teams 
came in with the Artillira — this day a number of our 
men went down to Fort Miller in battoes to carry the 
sick and Cap.ns Bag went down & the men stayed out. 

Wednesday 18th. Being cold the teams sot out for 
the Lake — about 40 of the Kings waggons — this af- 

* Halifax, Nova Scotia. t Tomahawk. f Scalped, 



I 



40 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

ternoon their was a Lobster* Corperel married to a 
Road Island whore — our men came in from Fort 
Miller. 

Thursday 19th. Our rigiment was mustered by 9 
a clock in the morning &- our Brigade-major cald over 
the role of each company and after that we had a drink 
of flipt for working over at the Royal Block House — 
at one of the clock our men were all calld to work — 
A Court morshol held at Capt. Holmes tent & Captain 
Holmes President & at the role of the Pickit g^uard 
their was one Isac Ellis whipt 30 stripes — was to had 
50 — Col. Henmanst men came in loaded with Artil- 
lira stores. 

Friday 20th. Cold stil & our men all upon works — 
this afternoon Lieut. Smith came up to us again from 
Green Bush, Sl Shubal child came to his team. 

Saturday ye 21st. Still cold — in the morning our 
men cald out to work by sonrise or before &- 6 of our 
company viz. David Bishop Ephraim Ellingwood Sam- 
uel Mercey Nathaniel Abbott David Jewet and Drake 
marched of with their Packs — this night their came 
down a great number of teams from ye Lake here 
loded with cannon Balls and Bum shells. Likewise a 
number of sick came down. 

Sonday 22. The teams set out for ye Lake again 
-I was upon the quarter guard — a large number of 

* British regular. 

t A mixture of beer and rum, warmed by thrusting a hot iron 
into it. J Hinman's. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 41 

sick sot out for Home &. it jet held cold & at night 
it cleared of very clear &/ stil but very fresing cold & 
a black frost. 

Monday ye 23rd. I come of guard — Clerk Burrows 
began his Month with bess — at night 3 rigiments of 
Province men came down from ye Lake & Lodged in 
the wood near the uper Block House — a number of 
teames down from ye Lake Loaded with Artilliry stores. 

Tuesday 24th. A number of teames started for ye 
Lake again — I received 2 Letters from Capt. Benjamin 
Lyon Si. 1 from Joshua — the Post came up yesterday 
to Fort Edward — This day our drawing & we had 
good pork — 3 rigiments of Bay men moved down 
along which was Colonel Pribbels* Colonel Williams 
&/ Colonel Nichols. 

Wednesday 25th. Jineral Abbacromba arived at 
Fort Edward near night and all our rigiment there 
were of duty were ordered to be out upon the perrade 
with their side arms on but the jineral for Bid it — Col.l 
Partrages rigiment came down & some of the Lather 
caps & stayed Here. 

Thursday ye 26th. Stormy morning — snow pretty 
wet & raw cold — I went upon the pickit last night 
and had one Quort of rum for keeping sheep, 

•Friday 27th. Being lowry & wet one of our men 
Discharged home & sot of — Nathaniel Barnes a num- 
ber of teams sot out for the Brook & returned again 
before son down. 

* Prebles. 



42 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

Saterday 28th. Being stil cold all our men turned 
out to work son rise & that want a Nuf & they sent 
for every weighter* & every one that belongs to the 
rigiment — a number of teams sot out down Home ward 
& 3 of our company went with them viz. Sergt. Armsba 
Jonathan Child and Pain Convis — this after noon the 
orders came out that every setlerf that Belongs to the 
Provinshols should Quit this place by the first of No- 
vember. 

Sonday ye 29th. Rany & wet — about 9 o clock in 
the morning Every man in the Rigiment that could go 
went to the falls:}: to help Draw down the battoes and 
very muddy it was. 

Monday ye 30th. Being very pleasant in the morn- 
ing we were all turned out after Battoes up to the falls 
& we went twice apeace. 

Tuesday ye 31st. All our men turned out by the 
Revalliesll Beating to go after Battoes & jineral Pro- 
vorce§ was out amongst our tents to help turn us out 
& he said it was the last work we should do that was 
flung up to day — I went upon the Quarter guard at 
noon and they got down all the Battoes. 

Wednesday November ye 1st. Lowry & wet I come 
of guard our men all upon works & 3 rigiments of our 
Conneticuts came down about noon & Colonel Whi- 
tings had orders to go over to the Royal Block House 

* Waiter. t Sutler. 

f The " third fall," as it was called, in the Hudson, at Sandy Hill. 

II Reveille. § Provost. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 43 

and their to remain til further orders and tother 2 
rio-iments Sot of Home in Battoes & 2 or 3 rimments 
of lobsters — we had orders com out that we should 
have 2 days to clean up in & to set for Home on Son- 
day — this day I wrote a Letter & sent to John. 

Thursday ye 2nd. Very cold — our men turned out 
to cutting fashheens & the orders were that it was the 
last days work that we should do. 

Friday ye 3d. Very cold — our men all turned out 
upon works nctwith Standing yesterdays promise — 
our men had but poor incouragements to work & laid 
but Little w^eight to what the jineral promised them for 
he said the first man that disobeyed his orders again 
should be shot to death whatsoever soldier or officer. 

Saturday 4th. I was orderly after the jineral & our 
men all to work a drawing in Canon into the fort & 
our quorter guard was not releaved til after noon & 
after that orders com out that we should strike our 
tents by 8 oclock and be ready to march by 9 — one 
Gimbals got his discharge from the regular service to 
day. 

Sonday ye 5th. Being very cold it began to rain so 
that we w^ere detained but Colonel Whiting Marched 
of — rainy all day Long — we had orders to be ready 
to march at 7 Oclock in the morning. 

Monday ye 6th. Cloudy stil — at 8 Oclock we struck 
our tents & at 9 aclock we marched of & about half 
after 12 we arrivd at Fort Miller and made a little stop 
then marched again and arived at Saratoga Son "about 



44 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

one hour high & made no stop their but marched on 
about 3 mile &- Encampt in the woods. 

Friday ye 10th. Very stormy & snow in the Morn- 
ing — we drawd 2 days alowance of provissions but no 
money and about 2 o clock we sot out from Green Bush 
& arivd at Cantihook Town about ten a clock at 
knio:ht — 13 of us & Lieutenant Larnard. 

Saturday llth. From thence we marched son two 
Hours hiorh & arivd at John Hu^ "far Booms* & re^ 
vived our selves a little & bought som rum that be- 
lonared to Colonel Whitens Rigiment & from thence to 
Love Joys & went to supper & from thence to Rob- 
berses & lodged their in the Patterroon lands.j 

Sonday 12th. Being stil cold we sot out at Son rise 
& arived at Bushes in Sheffield and had a good brec- 
first & their was moore with Horses & from thence to 
Larrances & revivd our selves their— to Coles & 
thence to Seororick in Cornwel & then to Wilcocks in 

DO 

Goshen & Lodged their. 

Monday 13th. Cold -I com up to Holleboate & sent 
my Pack a long from goshen & then we marched and 
arived at Litchfield & then to Herrintowm to Wiers & 
from their to Stronors in Farminotown & Lodsred their. 

~ o o 

Tuesday 14th. Very cold & frosty — marched 5 mile 
through the Meadows & went to Brecfast and com to 
Mercies and stayed their & capt.n Holmes came up, 

Wednesday 15th. We marched & arived at Chenys 
in Bolton and from thence we marched and Arived at 
^* Hogeboom's. See note, page 13. 



FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 



45 



Lees in covantry* & Lodged their — very rainy Ste- 
phen Lyon met us with the Horses. 

Thursday 16th. Being warm & pleasant we arived 

at Woodstock. "• 

* Coventiy. 

Note. — The soldiers had, necessarily, a great deal of leisure 
during permanent camp-duties, and contrived various ways to amuse 
themselves, and " kill time." In those days the common soldiers 
carried their powder in the horns of cows or oxen, and many amused 
themselves by ornamenting them by a skilful use of their knives. 
Below is a specimen of one of these ornamented horns, prepared 
during the campaign of 1758. Upon it is neatly cut the figure of a 
fortified building (a part of which is seen in the engraving), the 
owner's name, and a verse, as follows : — 

" Elnathan Ives His Horn, Made at Lake George, September ye 
22d, Ad. 1758. 

"I, powder, With My Brother Baul 
A Hero like do Conquer All. 
Steel not this Horn For Fear of Shame 
For on it is the Oners name. 
The Roos is Red, the Grass is Green — 
The Days Are past Which I Have Seen " 




A JOURNAL FOR 1775, A. D. 



/6a/yv^^'-L ) ^'i^^^rV 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



The following is a literal transcript of a Journal 
kept by a common soldier named Samuel Haws, of 
Wrentham, Massachusetts, who appears to have been 
one of the mi7mte-men, organized toward the close of 
1774 and early in 1775. At that time there were about 
three thousand British troops in Boston, under General 
Thomas Gage, who was also governor of the colony 
of Massachusetts. He was popularly regarded as an 
oppressor ; and act after act of the British government, 
during a year preceding, had convinced the American 
people that they must choose the alternative to submit 
or fight. They resolved to fight, if necessary. During 
the summer of 1774, the people commenced armino-, 
and training themselves in military exercises ; the man- 
ufacture of arms and gunpowder was encouraged ; and 
throughout Massachusetts, in particular, the people 
were enrolled in companies, and prepared to take up 
arms at a moment's warning. From this circumstance 
they were called " Minute-Men." 

With his strong force, Gage felt quite certain that 
he could suppress the threatened insurrection, and keep 
the people quiet. Yet he felt uneasy concerning the 
gathering of ammunition and stores by the patriots at 
Concord, sixteen miles from Boston : and on the ni-rht 

4 



50 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 

of the 18th of April, 1775, he sent a detachment of sol- 
diers to seize them. They proceeded by the way of 
Lexington, where they arrived at dawn of the 19th. 
The expedition became known, and the country was 
aroused. When the British approached Lexington, 
they were confronted by about seventy minute-men. 
A skirmish ensued : eight patriots were killed, and sev- 
eral were wounded. That ivas the first bloodshed of the 
Revolution. The British then went on to Concord, to 
seize the stores, where they were again confronted by 
minute-men. Indeed, they had been annoyed all the 
way by them, as they fired from behind buildings, 
stone-walls, and trees. They destroyed the stores, and 
in a skirmish killed several more American citizens. 
The country was now thoroughly aroused, and the 
minute-men hastened toward Lexington and Concord 
from all directions. Tlie British found it necessary to 
retreat, and nothing saved the whole troop sent out the 
night before from utter destruction, but a strong rein- 
forcement under Lord Percy. The whole body re- 
treated hastily to Charlestown, and across to Boston, 
with a loss, in killed and wounded, of two hundred and 
seventy-three men. Litelligence of the tragedy soon 
spread over the country, and from the hills and valleys 
of New England thousands of men, armed and un- 
armed, hastened tov*^ard Boston, and formed that force 
(of which our Journalist was one) that, for nine months, 
kept the British army prisoners upon the peninsulas of 
Boston and Charlestown. By common consent, Arte- 
mas Ward, a soldier of the French and Lidian war, 
was made commander-in-chief, and he performed the 
duties of that office with zeal until he was superseded 
by Washington, early in July, 1775. 

L. 



s/ 



A JOUENAL FOR 1775. 



Fac-simile of a Portion of the Manuscript Journal. 

Wrentham,* April the 19. 

About one a clock the mmute menf v/ere alarmed 
and met at Landlord Moons We marched from there 
the sun about half an our high towards Roxbury for 
we heard that the regulars had gone out and had killed 
six men and had wounded Some more that was at Lex- 
inton then the kings troops proceded to concord and 
there they were Defeated and Drove Back fiting as 
they w^ent they gat to charlstown hill that night^ We 
marched to headens at Walpole]| and their got a little 

* In Norfolk county, Massachusetts, tliirty-two miles southwest 
from Boston. 

t See introductory remarks. The skirmishes at Lexington and 
Concord occurred early in the morning of this day 

I See introductory remarks. 

II Twenty-one miles from Boston. 



52 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

refreshment and from their we marched to Doctor che- 
neys and their we got some victuals and Drink and 
from thence we marched to Landlord clises at Ded- 
ham* and their captain parson and company joined us 
and then we marched to Jays and their captain Boyd 
and company joined us and we marched to Landlord 
Whitino-s we taried their about one hour and then we 
marched to richardes and Searched the house and found 
Ebenezer aldis and one pery M^ho we supposed to Be 
torys and we searched them and found Several Let- 
ters about them which they were a going to cary to 
Nathan aldis in Boston but makeing them promis ref- 
ormation We let them go home then marching forward 
we met colonel gratonf returning from the engage- 
ment which was the Day before and he Said that he 
would be with us amediately then we marched to Ja- 
micai plaint their we heard that the regulars Were a 
coming over the neck]] then we striped of our coats 

* Thirteen miles from Boston. 

t Colonel John Greaton. He was a bold officer, and commanded 
a corps Avliich performed a sort of ranger service. At this time he 
Avas only a major. In June following he carried off about eight 
hundred sheep and lambs, and some cattle, from Deer island. About 
that time he was promoted to the rank of colonel. In the middle 
of July, he led one hundred and thirty-six men, in whaleboats, to 
destroy forage and other property on Long island, in Boston harbor; 
and at one time he captured a barge belonging to a British man-of- 
war. In April, 177G, he accompanied General Thompson to Can- 
ada. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier in the continental 
army, in January, 1783. 

I Jamaica Plain, six miles from Boston. 

II The isthmus that connected the peninsula of Boston with the 
main, at Roxbury. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 53 

and marched on -vvith good courage to Colonel Wil- 
liams and their we heard to the contrary We staid 
their some time and refreshed our Selves and then 
marched to Roxbury parade and their we had as much 
Liquor as we wanted and every man drawd three Bis- 
cuit which were taken from the regulars* the day be- 
fore which were hard enough for flints We lay on 
our arms until towards night and then we repaired to 
Mr. Slaks house and at nio^htSix men were draughted 
out for the main gruard nothing; strangle that nifjht. 
D 21. Nothing remarkable this day. 
D 22. Nothing Strange this D nor comical. 
D 23. Being Sabath day we marched on to the pa- 
rade their was an alarm this night but it prouved to be 
a falce one Some of our men went to Weymoth.f 
D 24. Nothing strange to day. 
D 25. Nothing remarkable to day. 
D 26. We were guarded and a partj^ draughted out 
for the mane guard. 

D 27. The inlistment came out to inlist men for the 
masechusetts Service Some of our minute men in- 
listed the Same day but captain Pond went home and 
several of his company they went as far as Doctor 
cheanys that night and the next morning reached home 
on monday the company w^ere called together in order 
to inlist men Lietunant messenger with a party went 

* The British soldiers were all called regulars. This word de- 
notes soldiers belonging to the regular army, as distinguished from 
militia. 

t Twelve miles southeast from Boston. 



54 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

down to Roxbury and we Still remaing in Mr. Slaks 
house also on the same day their war four tories caried 
throug roxbury* to cambriggf from marsh field :|: and 
their was a great Shouting when they came through 
the camp. II 

D 28. This day our regement paraded and went 
throuo-h the manuel exesise then we grounded our fire- 
locks and every man set down by their arms and one 
abial Petty axedentely discharged his peace and shot 
two Balls through the Body of one asa cheany through 
his Left side and rite rist he Lived about 24 hours and 
then expired he belonged to Walpole§ and he was car- 
ied their and Buried on the 30 day of April on Sunday- 
after meting this young man was but a few days Be- 
fore fired at by one main guard in atempting to pass 
the auard and was not hurt in the least. 

D 29. About nine o clock the said cheney died about 
fore in the afternoon We had another alarm but their 
was nothing done. 

30th. Being the Lord's day we went to meeting and 
heard Mr. Adams^ and he preached a very Sutable 
Sermon for the ocation. 

* One mile from Boston. 

t Three miles norllnvest from "Boston. 

I Thirty-one miles southeast from Boston. 

II Tories were those who adhered to the British. It is a name 
derived from the vocabulary of English politics in the time of Charles 
II. A (on/, then, was an adherent of tlie crown ; a tvli/'g Avas an 
opposer of the government. The word was first iised in America 
about 1770. 

§ Twenty-one miles soiithwest from Boston. 

^ Rev. Amos Adams, a minister at Roxbury. He was a graduate 



the war for independence. 55 

May. 

Id. Nothing very remarkable this day. 
2d-ll. Nothing of consequence hapened. 
12-14. No great for news. 
15, 16. No news worth mentioning. 

17. At night their was a fire broke out in Boston 
ocationed by the kings troops that were a deahng out 
their Stores when one of the Soldiers letting a candle 
fall amongst some powder and set it on fire which oca- 
tioned the Destruction of a great number of Buildings 
and killed some Soldiers and destroyed a considerable 
deal of their amunition Besides a great quantity of 
flower. 

18, 19. Nothing very remarkable. 

20. Nothing strange to day. 

21. Being Sunday about eight o clock we were 
alarmed we heard that the regulars were a landino" at 
Dorchester Point and that there was two Lighters gone 
to Weymoth Loaded with the Kings troops but it was 
a false alarm and their was nothingf done.* 

of Harvard college. He died of dysentery, wliicli prevailed in the 
camp, at Dorchester, on the 5th of October, 1775, in the forty-eighth 
year of his age. 

* On Sunday morning, the 21st of May, the British commander 
sent two sloops and an armed schooner to take off a quantity of hay 
from Grape island. They were opposed by the people who gathered 
on the point nearest the island. Tliese finally got two vessels afloat, 
■went to the island, drove the British off, burnt eighty tons of hay, 
and brought off many cattle. Tliere was some severe fighting during 
the affair. Mrs. John Adams., writing to her husband, said: "You 
inquire who were at the engagement at Grape island. I may say 



56 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

22. Nothing to day for news. 

23-26. Nothing remarkable. 

the 27. At night we heard the report of cannon and of 
Small arms but we could not tell from whence it was.* 

the 28. Being Sunday we were informed that the 
firing we heard yesterday was at Nedlersf Island be- 
tween the Kings troops and our men, our men killed 
several of them and took a number of field pieces and 
burnt two Schooners and they did not hurt any of our 
men. 

the 29. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 30. Captain Ponds company moved to comodore 
Lorings house. + 

with truth, all of Weymouth, Bramtree, and Hingham, who were 

able to bear arms Both your brothers were there ; your 

younger brother with his company, who gained honor by their good 
order that day. He was one of the first to venture on board a 
schooner, to land upon the island." Mr. Adams was then in the 
Continental Congress, at Philadelphia. 

* On Saturday, May 27th, a detachment of Americans was sent 
to drive all the live stock from Hog and Noddle's islands, near Bos- 
ton. They were observed by the British, who despatched a sloop, 
a schooner, and forty marines, to oppose them. They were fired on 
from the vessels, and quite severe skirmishing continued through the 
night. The Americans sent for reinforcements, and, at about nine 
o'clock at night, some three hundred men and two pieces of cannon 
arrived, commanded by General Putnam in person, and accompanied 
by Dr. Warren as a volunteer. They compelled the British to 
abandon their .sloop, and the Americans took possession of it. The 
British lost twenty killed and fifty wounded. The Americans had 
none killed, and only four wounded. They captured twelve swivels 
and four four-pound cannon, besides clothing and money. 

t Noddle's. 

I Probably the house of Joshua Loring, jr., near Roxbury, who 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 57 

the 31. Being election day we drank the Ladies 
health and success. 

June the 1. Nothing remarkable hapened this day. 

the 2-8. Nothing remarkable hapened. 

the 9. We passed muster Before colonel Robinson* 
and received one months pay. 

the 10. Their was a man Whiped for Stealing. 

the 11. Their was a soldier died at the hospittle 
which was the first that had died of Sickness since we 
incampt the same day their was two fire Shipsf drumed 
out of the rhodisland compy. 

the 12. Nothing Strange this day. 

the 13. Dito. 

the 14. The general:}: seing the reinforcement of the 
Kings troops come to Boston ordered the comps to be 
in readeness also ordered that a number of teams be 
imploid in carting fusheens|| and other materials for 
building Brest Works this being on thursday. 

was a violent lojcalist. General Gage made him sole auctioneer in 
Boston. He Avas afterward commissary of prisoners in NeAV York. 
His wife is referred to in Hopkinson's poem, " The Battle of the 
Kegs." 

* Colonel John Robinson, who was second in command in the skir- 
mish at Concord on the 19th of April. He commanded the detach- 
ment that guarded Boston neck, for some time. Speaking of that 
duty, Gordon remarks : " The colonel was obhged, therefore, for the 
time mentioned, to patrol the guards every night, which gave him a 
round of nine miles to traverse." t Harlots, 

I General Thomas, who had command of the right wing, extend- 
ing from Roxhury to Dorchester. General Artemas Ward was the 
commander-in-chief until the arrival of Washington, early in July 

II Fascines. See note on page 35. 



58 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 15. Nothing- remarkable this day. 

the 16. Nothing of consiquence this day. 

the 17. It being Saturday the Kings troops Landed 
at charlestown gind set the whole town on fire and Lrdd 
it all in ashes then they proceeded to Bunkers hill^ 
where colonel putnam intrenchet and after an engage- 
ment which Lasted the afternoon the troops took the 
Hill and it is said that the nearest computation of the 
Loss of the enemy was about 1500 is killed and wound- 
ed were alarmed about one o clock that day and went 
down to our alarm post and we lay their all the after- 
noon and about six o clock the troops fa-ed from their 
Brest Work on Boston neck at our people in Roxbury 
and we staid until the firing was over and then our 
regiment was ordered to Cambridge to asist our forces 
and we reached their about twelve o clock at night and 
Lodged in the meting house until break of day being 

t This is a mistake. It was Breed's liill, nearer Charlestown and 
Boston than Bunker's hill. Colonel William Prescott, and not Gen- 
eral Putnam, was entrenched there, and was in command during the 
engagement. He had been sent with a company, the night before, 
about a thousand strong, to throw up a redoubt on Bunker's hill. 
He made a mistake, and performed the work on Breed's hill. The 
British had no suspicion of the work that went on during that sultry- 
June night, and were greatly alarmed when they saw a formidable 
breastwork overlooking their shipping in the harbor, and menacing 
the city. During the engngement. General Putnam was on Bun- 
ker's hill, urging on reinforcements for Prescott. Dr. Warren, just 
appointed major-general, joined Prescott as a volunteer during the 
battle, and was mortally wounded just as the conflict ended. It 
must be remembered thitt the writer of this Journal was in General 
Thomas's division, which did not participate in the battle of the 1 7th 
of June. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. «^9 

Sunday we turned out and marched to prosket hill* 
expecting to come to an ingagement we halted at a 
house at'the bottom of the hill and fixed for a battle 
then we marched up the hill where we went to in- 
trenching about 12 o clock Some of our men went 
down thl hill towards the troops after Some flower 
and the troops fired at them and wounded David Tris- 
dale in the shoulder and another in the Leg about 4 
o clock colonel Reedf ordered his regiment to march to 
roxbury and we arived their about sunset very weary. 

the 19. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 20. Dito. 

the 21. Nothing worth a mentioning. 

the 22. Dito. 

the 23. Nothing remarkable to day. 

the 24. The enemy fired again upon Roxbury about 
3 o clock and the guards fired upon each other and 
their was one man killed and we were alarmed.^ 

* Prospect liill. The Americans retreated from Breed's and Bun- 
ker's hills to Winter and Prospect hills, and Cambridge. The re- 
mains of the American entrenchments on Prospect hill were demol- 
ished in 1817. . . 

t Colonel James Reed, of New Hampshire. He was active m the 
battle of the 17th. He was a brave officer, and was at the head of 
a regiment at Ticonderoga the following year. 

I The Americans were alarmed on the 24th by indications that 
the whole British army in Boston was about to force its way across 
Boston neck. At noon they commenced throwing bombshells mto 
Roxbury, but the alert soldiers prevented damage from them, and 
saved the town. Colonel Miller, of Rhode Island, said in a letter— 
«' Such was the courage of our men, that they would go and take up 
a burning carcass or bomb, and take out the fuse !" 



60 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 25. Sunday Nothing remarkable. 

the 26. This morning very early our men went to 
set Browns house on fire but did not efect it.* 

the 27. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 28. We moved to a little house that capt Bligs 
formerly Lived in but we Soon moved from there to 
Slaks house again. 

the 29. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 30. Nothing hapened only there was a Smart 
shower. 

July. 

the 1. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 2. Dito.f 

the 3. Dito.t 

the 4. Their was a flag of truce come out of town 
to our centry on the neck. 

the 5. Nothing worth a mentioning to day. 

the 6. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 7. Early in the morning we were alarmed and 
all of us repaired to our alarm Post and we had not 

* The house and barns of Thomas Brown were on the neck, about 
a mile from Roxbnry meeting-house, and were occupied by the Brit- 
ish advanced guard. Two Americans tried to set fire to the barn 
on the 24th, and were killed. 

t The British again hurled some shells into Roxbury on Sunday, 
the 2d of July, but the extent of the damage was setting fire to one 
house, which was consumed. 

X George Washington was chosen commander-in-chief of the con- 
tinental armies on the 15th of Jime, 1775. He set out for the head- 
quarters of the army at Cambridge on the 21st, reached there on the 
2d of July, and took formal command of the army on the morning 
of the 3d. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 61 

been their Long before we Saw Browns house and 
Barn on fire and they M'ere both consumed* these were 
Set on fire by some of our brave ameracans and they 
took one gun and too Bagonets and one halbert. 

the 8, 9. Notliing remarkable, 

the 10. About Eleven o clock their was a party of 
Soldier sent to germantownf to get some whale Boats 
they marched down their that night the next night being 
clear they set out for Long island and arived there in 
a Short time then they Plundred the island and took 
from thence 19 head of horned cattle and a number of 
Sheep and three Swine:}: also eighteen prisoners and 
amongst them were three w^omen. 

the 11. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 12. Major Tupper and his company returned to 
Roxbury with their prisoners and the same day their 
was a Party draughted out to go to Long island to 
burn the Buildings their when they were atacked by 
the Kings troops and had a smart engagement|| but we 

* A party of volunteers, under Majors Tupper and Crane, attacked 
the British advanced guards, drove them in, and set fire to Brown's 
house. They took several muskets, and retreated without loss. 

t It is impossible to identify this place. A letter, dated on the 
12th, says, " We have just got, over land from Cape Cod, a large 
fleet of whaleboats," &c., &c. The place alluded to in the text was 
probably near Boston. 

X This party went from Roxbiny camp. The report says that 
they brought from Long island " fifteen prisoners, two hundred sheep, 
nineteen cattle, thirteen horses, and three hogs." The prisoners 
were taken to Concord. 

II The party under Colonel Greaton, mentioned in a preceding 
note. 



62 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

Lost but one man and he belonged to Captain Persons 
company of Stoughton.* 

the 13. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 14. Nothing remarkable untill night and then 
their was a man killed at the main guard with a canon 
Ball. 

the 15-17. Nothing remarkable. 

the 18. Nothing remarkable this day.f 

the 19. We had an alarm and we went to our alarm 
Post and stayed their about one hour and could not 
discover any thing and so we returned to our Baracks 
again. 

the 20. Their was a man killed who belonged to 
captain Bachelors company in Col Reeds Regiment he 
was killed by a guns going accidentely of, he was shot 
about Seven o clock and died about nine o clock the 
same night his name was Wood Belonged to uptont 
he was about 24 or 25 years of age.|| 

the 21-24. Nothing remarkable. 

the 25. Our Regement with four more were under 
arms and marched towards cambridg to meet general 
Ward. 

the 26. General Heaths regement moved from Dor- 

* Twenty miles south from Boston. 

t A strong party of Americans took possession of an advanced 
post in Roxbury, upon -wliich the British kept up an incessant fire. 

I Upton is thirty-fire miles southwest from Boston. 

II The 20th was observed throughout the camps as a day of fast- 
ing and prayer. Before daylight that morning, a party from Heath's 
regiment landed on Nanta.sket point, set fire to the lighthouse, and 
brought away a thousand bushels of barley and a quantity of bay. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 63 

Chester to cambrid<2: and Jeneral Wards reorement moved 
from cambriclg to Dorchester and took general Heath's 
Baracks. 

the 27. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 28. Dito. 

the 29. Nothing bad. 

the 30. Being Sunday we had an alarm and went 
to our Fort* the same day there w^as a party of men 
draughted out to go to the Light house and major tup- 
per was comander of the party .f 

the 31. This day major tupper and his men returned 
to Roxbury with between thirty and forty prisoners 
some regulars and some torys and some marienst and 
had something of a battle and we lost one man and an- 
other wounded and our men Burnt the Light house and 
took some plunder|l thar was an alarm the firing began 

* This was a very strong quadrangular work, on the highest emi- 
nence in Roxbury. It had four bastions, and in every respect was 
a regtdar work. It is now well preserved, the embankments being 
from six to fifteen feet in height from without. 

t On that day the British, five hundred strong, marched over the 
neck, and built a slight breastwork to cover their guard. The 
American camp was in alarm all the day, and that night the troops 
lay o.n their arms. The tories in Boston were also alarmed, for they 
dreaded an invasion of the city by their exasperated countrymen. 

I Marines. 

II The British commenced rebuilding the lighthouse on Nantasket 
point. Major Tupper, with three hundred men, attacked the work- 
ing-party, killed ten or twelve men, and took the rest prisoners. 
He then demolished the Avorks, but, before he could leave, some 
armed boats came to oppose him. In the skirmishing that ensued, 
fifty-three of the British were killed or captured. Tupper lost one 
man killed, and two wounded. 



t 
64 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

first at the floating Battery and then at the Brest Work 
and then the troops marched out and set the george 
tavern* on fire our men took one prisoner and the same 
night one of the enemy deserted and came to our cen- 
trys at Dorchester point and brought away with him 
too guns and too cartridg Boxes and 60 rounds of car- 
tridgs all in good order and their was several more de- 
serted to cambridg- the same nisrht. 

August Domina 1775. 

the 1. The floating Batteryf went up towards Brook- 
line fort+ then our men perceiving her move they began 
to fire at her out of colonel Reeds fi^rt untill they drove 
her back to her old place the same day they fired from 
Roxbury hill fort and it was said that they fired tlu-ough 
their Baracks. 

the 2. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 3. Dito. 

the 4. Nothing remarkable to day only I went to the 
main guard and the enemy fired at us as we came up. 

the 5. Dito, 

the 6. Being Sunday nothing remarkable at night I 
went on the piquet guard. 

* A party of British troops sallied out toward Roxbury, drove in 
the American pickets, and burned the tavern which was situated 
upon the portion of the neck nearest Roxbury. 

t When the British built their breastwork on the neck, the Sun- 
day previous, they had a floating battery brought into Charles river, 
and moored it within three hundred yards of Sewall's point. 

f The Brookline fort was on Sewall's point, between Roxbury 
and Cambiidge. It commanded the entrance to Charles river. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 65 

the 7. Nothing strange. 

the 8. Dito. 

the 9. Nothing remarkable this day only I went upon 
fatigue. 

the 10. Nothing strange We had a great rain. 

the 1 1. Their was three men whipt for deserting 
they were whipt ten' stripes apiece they belonged to 
the conecticut forces. 

the 12. Nothing remarkable to day I went upon fa- 
tigue to Dorchester.* 

the 13. Being Sunday we went to Hear Mr. Wil- 
lardf and after Meting our Men went to Entrench 
down at the George tavern and About Brake of day 
they got Horn. 

14. Their was Nothing Remarcable I went upon 
fatigue down to the George tavern. 

15. Two Oclock this Afternoon when the Lobsters^ 
fired on our guards which was returned by our Roxbu- 
ry fort the fireing was continued for some time but how 
much to their Damag we dont know one of our men 
was slitely wounded their fireing was from a floating 
Batery and it is thought would have killed one or too 
men if they had not have Lain down for the Ball 

* The village and cliurcli of Dorchester was four miles from Boston. 
The heights of Dorchester are in what is now called South Boston. 

f Joseph Willard, D.D., who was made president of Harvard col- 
lege in December, 1781. He died in New Bedford, in 1804, at the 
age of sixty-four years. 

I A nickname given to the British regulars, on account of their 
red suits. They were so called in England,, as early as the time 
of Queen Anne. 

5 



66 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

passed within about 4 foot of our Barack the night 
passed without any alarm. 

the 16. This day they fired at our main guard but 
no -material Damage was done the remaining part of 
their mallice seemed to be postponed to a future sea- 
son our american guard kept their ground and the 
night passed without any alarm &c &c. 

the 17. About nine Oclock the enemy fired upon our 
main guard and fatigue men they through 4 Balls and 
2 Bombs and one of the Balls struck 2 ffuns which be- 
longed to the main guard and the men had them on 
their Shoulders but did not hurt them much. 

the 18. Behold their Spite this morning before the 
sun rise the enemy fired at our working party on the 
neck this side the george tavern our rifle men fired at 
them and it is thought killed too of them but notwith- 
standinsf all their fireine: of balls and bombs thoucrh 
some of them came so near that it could hardly be 
called an escape yet their was not one man wounded 
on our side one bomb was thrown m the evenino- but 
did no Damage one of the enemy came to our centrys 
and is now in our guard house. 

the 19. I went upon fatigue the morning began with 
fireing from the wicked enemy at our guard but did 
no hurt in the afternoon they rifle men fired at the en- 
emy and they enemy at them and they wounded one 
of the rifle men in the foot Slitely but what Damage 
we did them is uncertain let this SuflSce fer a short 
acount of the tranactions of the 19 day. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 67 

the 20. I went upon the main guard at night our 
boats went up with in gun Shot of the comon* and 
alarmed them by fireing Several guns and then re- 
turned without any Loss on our side. 

the 21. Nothing remarkable hapened this day at 
night one of the enemy deserted and came to us. 

the 22. We paraded nothing remarkable I went down 
to the piquet. 

the 23, 24. Nothing remarkable. 

the 25. A flag of truce came out of town but for 
what I dont know. 

the 26. This morning their was a man ran away 
from the floating battery. 

the 27. Being Sunday but they make such a fireing 
over at Bunkers hill that it seems to be more Like the 
Kings birth day than Sunday but what Sucksess they 
have had we are not able to to determine but we heard 
that they killed too men and wounded 3 or 4 four more.f 

the 28. But they still hold up their firing at Bunkers 
hill nothing more remarkable this day. 

the 29. I went upon the piquet down to the george 
tavern and the enemy fired several small arms at us 
but did us no Damage. 

* The large park, known as Boston Common, extended down to 
the water's edge, before the flats were filled in. 

t About nine o'clock on Sunday morning, the 27th, the British 
opened a heavy cannonade from Bmiker's hill (where they had built 
a strong redoubt), and from a ship and floating battery in Mystic 
river. The firing was directed upon the American works on Win- 
ter, Prospect, and Ploughed hills. They continued to bombard 
these works daily until the 10th of September. 



68 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 30. Very rainy nothing extraordinary this day. 

the 31. Nothing extraordinary this day only it was 
rainy at night Lieutenant Foster and four men went 
down to the piquet.* . 

Septem. 
the 1. This morning very early just past one o clock 
the enemy began to fire from their Brest Work and 
their floating batery which ocationed an alarm their 
fireing Semed to be at our main guard and piquet they 
fired a number of guns and threw several bombs and 
they vv^ere permitted to kill too men the one belongd to 
Col Huntingtonsf Regement and the other belonged 

* There was a foraous tree in Boston, nnder wlncli the patriots 
had often held meetings since the time of the stamp-act excitement. 
On that account it was called " Liberty-Tree." It was a noble elm, 
and stood at the corner of the present Washington and Essex streets. 
On the 31st of August, 1775, the British cut it down, with no appa- 
rent motive but the indulgence of petty spite. An eye-witness of the 
event says : " After a long spell of laughing and grinning, sweating, 
swearing, and foaming, with malice diabolical, they cut down a tree, 
because it bore the name of liberty." A tory soldier was killed by 
its fall. A poet of the day wrote : — 

"A tory soldier, on its topmost limb — 
The Genius of the Shade looked stern at him, 
And marked him out that same hour to dine 
Where unsnuffed lamps burn low at Pluto's shrine. 
Then tripped his feet from off their cautious stand: 
Pale turned the wretch — he spread each helpless hand, 
But spread in vain — with headlong force he fell, 
Nor stopped descending, till he stopped in liell !" 

t Colonel Jedediah Huntington, of Norwich, Connecticut. The 
British now seemed determined to make a general assault upon the 
besiegers, and a heavy cannonade was opened simultaneously upon 
the Americans at.Roxbury and in the vicinity of Cambridge. 



TPIE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 69 

to col Davidsons Regement and one of the rillemen 
was slitely wounded but see the Providence of god in 
it when 6 or 7 hundred men were before the mouths 
of their canon there was but too men killed We should 
not have thought it strange if they had killed 20 con- 
sidering the Situation that they were in too of the reg- 
ulars centrys deserted about a hour before the firing 
began this was the smartest fireing that ever has been 
this campaign in the afternoon they fired upon our fa- 
tigue party but did no Damage also about Sunset there 
was several guns fired on board the Ships there was 
several Ships came in to the harbour thus far the pro- 
ceding of the 1 day. 

the 2. I went down to the right hand of the burying 
place and we had not been their Long before we were 
ordered of and the canon began to play upon the ene- 
my from Roxbury fort on the hill and the field peices 
from the brest work in the thicket the ocation of our 
mens fireing upon them was this they had advanced 
about 30 or 40 rods this side their other brest work on 
the neck and were intrenching their^ they fired sev- 
eral guns at us but did us no Damage in the afternoon 
we went down to our work again expecting every mo- 
ment when they would fire at us but they never fired 
one gun in the afternoon at night thir w^as a platform 
caried down to the thicket in order to mount a canon 
their Nothing more remarkable to day. 

* They threw up a slight breastwork a little in advance of their 
lines on the neck, and not far from the George tavern. 



70 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 3. Being- Sunday we turned out about day and 
went to our alarm post and it rained and we cam home 
and John cole man drinkt 3 pints cyder at one draught 
nothing more remarkable this day. 

the 4. We turned out this morning before day and 
went to our alarm post nothing remarkable this day at 
night I went upon the piquet down to Lambs Dam* 
nothing more remarkable. 

the 5. Nothing remarkable only Benjamin Mc Lain 
sent home 10 Letters at one draught by Lieutenant 
Bacon and Lieutenant Foster had Likt to have been 
put under guard for pla}'ing ball. 

the 6. Nothing remarkable this day at Night our 
men went down below the george tavern for a safe 
guard for the centrys. 

the 7. We turned out early this morning and went 
to our alarm post and had a smart scrimmagef w^th no 
enemy and this day I went upon the creek guard sev- 
eral Ships sailed out of the harbour old White was 
buried and their was much joy.:}: 

the 8. Came of the creek guard and nothing remark- 
able hapned onely they enemy fired at our fatigue par- 
ty but did no damage at night upon the door guard. 

the 9. In the morning the enemy fired upon our fa- 
tigue party but did them no Damage in the afternoon 

* Lamb's dam was between Roxbury and Dorchester. There 
the Americans completed a strong work on the 10th of September, 
and mounted four eighteen-pounders. 

t Skirmish. | We can not explain this local allusion. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 71 

I went upon fatigue at night our men caried Several 
canon down into the thicket to the brest works their.* 

the 10. Being Sunday our men went on fatigue and 
the enemy fired upon them and broke three guns that 
were paraded but hurt no man at night their was a 
man deserted from cambridg and went to the enemy. 

the 11. We turned out and went to our alarm post 
and Ensign Parot shook one of his men for disobying 
orders this day their was a boat drove ashore belong- 
ing to the regulars and a Seargent and 5 men on board 
and they were all taken prisoners at night I went upon 
the piquet and was almost frozen to Death. 

the 12. Our men went down to Lambs Dam to en- 
trenching not above half a mile from the enemys brest 
work but nothing remarkable hapened. 

the 13. Colonel Clap officer of the day our men took 
this day 26 prisoners in mistickf river as we heard. 

the 14. This morning I went upon fatigue dov/n in 
the Street:}: and the enemy hred one shot at us and 
struck the brest work but did no Damage captain Pond|| 
comanded of the party. 

the 15. Their was a regular and too men of wars 
men§ ran away Last night and this morning nothing 

* The breastworks in the thicket were the Eoxbury lines of forti- 
fications in advance of the fort, 
t Mystic. 

I The road leading from Roxbury across the neck into Boston. 

II Captain Pond was from New Hampshire, and was an officer in 
Colonel Stark's regiment. 

§ From the vessels known as men-of-war. 



72 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

more remarkable their was 3 guns fired on board the 
Ship in cambridg Bay. 

the 16. Nothing remarkable hapened only the regu- 
lars fired several Shot at our men that were upon fa- 
tigue but did no Damage. 

the 17. Being Sunday I went upon the fatigue and 
the enemy fired several times at our men but did no 
Damage and they threw several Bombs. 

the 18. I came of the creek guard and the enemy 
fired several canon at our men but killed none and 
onely wounded one or too slitely and Last night their 
was several men ran away from a man of war and 
toward night the enemy fired several Shots from the 
Ship in cambridg bay and our men fired one Shot from 
Prospect hill at the Ship in the Bay but did not strike 
her. 

the 19. The enemy began to fire about eight oclock 
into the street but did no damage except slitely wound- 
ing one or too at night I went upon the piquet and 
Nothing remarkable hapened also their was a man put 
under guard for comeing on to the parade Drunk. 

the 20. Nothing remarkable hapened this day the 
enemy fired one shot at our fatigue party but did no 
damage they fired over at Bunkers hill and threw sev- 
eral Bombs. 

the 21. Last night I was on the door guard and this 
morning the enemy fired small arms at our men but 
did no Damage in the afternoon they fired canon but 
to no purpose. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 73 

the 22. Last night I was upon the door guard this 
being the Kings crownation* the enemy fired a num- 
ber of canon and toward night they put in balls but 
did no damage. 

the 23. I went upon fatigue down in the street and 
the Enemy began to fire at us about 9 oclock and fired 
without intermition for some time bie the best acounts 
they fired above one hundred balls and our men fired 
3 canon from our brest work near Lams Damb and one 
of the balls went into Boston amongst the housen but 
through the good hand of Devine providence in all 
their firing they did not kill one man nor wound any 
except one or too slitely.f 

the 24. Being Sunday we went to meting and heard 
a fine Sermon from psalms 14-11 this day our men 
went on fatigue as usual but the enemy did not fire 
upon them. 

the 25. I went on fatigue down in the thicket in the ' 
forenoon and at noon I was taken not well and did not 
go in the afternoon our men fired three field peices at 
the enemy but what execution they did we canot deter- 
mine nothing more. 

the 26. Nothing remarkable hapened this day onely 
their was 200 men draughted out to go to th^ govern- 
ors Island to take some cattle. 

* Coronation. George III. and his wife Charlotte were crowned 
on the 22d of September, 1761. It was always a holyday next to 
that of the king's birthday. 

t Frothingham says : " On the 23d, the British discharged one 
hundred and eight cannon and mortars on the works at Roxbury 
without doing any damage." 



74 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 27. Our men went to the Island and took 12 
head of Cattle and 2 horses and came of without any 
Molestation* at night I went upon the piquet and it 
rained very hard and we turnd in to the housen and 
La their Colonel Clapf was officer of the piquet. 

the 29. Nothing remarkable hapened this day there 
was too guns fired from the ship in Cambrige Bay. 

the 29. This day the Ship sailed out of Cambridge 
Bay and their was another came and took her place at 
night I went on the piquet without any supper nothing 
remarkable. 

the 30. This morning our men fired one field peice 
as the regulars came to relieve their main guard and 
that afronted them and they began to fire their canon 
from their brest work and floating Batry and they fired 
about 30 canon but did no damage also last night their 
was too regulars deserted and came to our centrys on 
the neck nothing more remarkable this day. 

October A 1775. 
the 1. Being Sunday I went to meting up to the con- 
ecticut forces and Mr. Wilard preacht a Sermon from 
chronicles the 20th chapter 10-11-12 v also in the af- 
ternoon Mr. Wilard preachd a sermon from 1st of cor- 
rintheans 15 ch 54 «S6 55 vers, also Last night their 

* This expedition was under Major Tapper. They burnt a fine 
pleasure-boat just ready to be launched, belonging to some British 
officers. 

t Of the Khode Island " Army of Observation," under General 
Greene. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 75 

was six mareens dessrtd from on board the Scarbor- 
ough.* 

the 2. Nothing remarkable hapned this day General 
Thomas Brigade passt Mustter about Sunset as our 
piquet paraded on the grand parade the enemy lired 3 
or 4 shots up to the meeting house one of the balls went 
through the shed by the Providence tavern but did no 
damage of consequence at night our chimney Swallow 
went on the piquet for nothing and found himself 

the 3. Nothing remarkable hapened this day at night 
I went upon the piquet. 

the 4. We past muster nothing remarkble hapened 
this day onely their was four of the enemy deserted at 
night. 

the 5. Nothing remarkable hapened this day onely 
their was 5 or 6 prisoners went through the camp that 
were taken at Dartmouth! on board the prize that our 
men took. 

the 6. The enemy fired between 80 and 90 Canon 
at our men but killed nine onely cut of one mans arm 
and killed too cows So much for this day. 

the 7. I went upon the creek guard and nothing re- 
markable hapned at night their was a regular deserted 

* This was a sloop-of-war, carrying twenty guns. 

t He probably refers to the prisoners taken in the armed schooner 
Margaretta, at Machias, Maine, in the month of May, by some Amer- 
icans under Jeremiah O'Brien ; or they may have been of the crew 
of two small cruisers afterward captured by O'Brien. Tliey were 
taken to WatertoAvn, where the Provincial Congress of Massachu- 
setts was in session. 



76 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

and the regular guard fired upon him but did not hurt 
him. 

the 8. Being Sunday it rained and we had no preach- 
ing nothing remarkable hapned at night their was a 
regular deserted and came to our men and their was 
another set out but they w^ere discovered and they took 
one of them. 

the 9. About eight o clock their was a Rifle man 
whipt 39 stripes for Stealing and afterwards he was 
Drummed out of the camps if the infernal regions had 
ben opened and cain and Judas and Sam Haws* had 
been present their could not have ben a biger uproar. 

the 10. I went up on the creek guard and nothing 
remarkable hapened their. 

.the 11. Their was a Rifle manf Drummed out of 
the camps for threatning his offisers also I went to 
Cambrido- with Boats. 

the 12. This day nothing remarkable hapned only I 
went to work along with the general at Mr. Parkers at 
night I went upon the piquet. 

* The writer of tliis Journal. 

t Tliese riflemen were from Maryland. The company had been 
raised by order of Congress, and placed in command of Captain Mi- 
chael Cresap, who, without a shadow of justice, was made to figure 
unfavorably in the celebrated speech attributed to Logan, the Mingo 
chief. Proof is abundant that the stain put upon the character of 
Cresap, by the speech of Logan from the pen of Jefferson, was un- 
merited. Captain Cresap was taken sick, and, at about the time 
here indicated, he started for home, but died at New York, on the 
ISth of October, 1775, at the age of thirty-three years. His re^ 
mains yet lie buried in Trinity churchyard, a few feet from Broad- 
way. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 77 

the 13. I went a chesnuting with a number of re- 
spectable gentlemen that belonged to the army and we 
had a rifle frolick* and came home about 10 Oclock. 

the 13. About 2 or 3 oclock their was one of our 
men taken and caried to the quarter guard for thieft 
abel Weatheril by name but it was made up and he 
was taken out at night and returned to his Duty. 

the 14. This day nothing remarkable hapned. 

the 15. Being Sunday I went upon fatigue down to 
the george tavern and their was a flag of truce went 
in and another came out f 

the 16. Nothing remarkable hapned Colonel Reeds 
Laidy came down to reveu the Regiment and treated 
themt nothing more this day. 

the 17. I went a chesnuting up to neutow^n|| and at 
night our floating Baterys went up towards the canon 
and fired 13 shots but unlucky for them one of their 
9 pounders split and killed one man dead and wounded 
8 more one of them it is thought mortally. 

the 18. I went upon the creek guard and John Bates 
was Lanch corporeal also in the afternoon their was 3 

* Shooting at a mark, for liquor. 

t Communications are thus had hetween belligerent armies. By- 
common consent, as a rule of war, a person approaching one anny 
from another, with a white flag, is respected as a neutral ; and to 
" fire upon a flag," as the phrase is when the bearer is fired upon, 
is considered a great breach of faith and honor. 

I The wives of officers often visited permanent camps, and formed 
pleasant social parties. Mrs. Washington visited her husband at 
Cambridge, while he remained there. She also spent a portion of 
the winter with him at Valley Forge, and likewise at Morristown. 

II Newton, seven miles north from Boston. 



78 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

Boston men came out under pretence of fishing but 
they made their escape to Dorchester point. 

the 19. Was rainy and nothing remarkable hapned. 

the 20. The thinfjs that were taken at the Lio^ht 
house were vendued and went very high* Nothing 
more remarkable hapned this day at night their was a 
regular deserted from the enimy. 

the 21. I went upon the creek guardf and it rained 
all day nothing remarkable hapned. 

the 22. Being Sunday nothing remarkable this day. 

the 23. Nothing remarkable hapned at night I went 
upon the piquet and nothing hapned worth a mention- 
ing. 

the 24. Nothing remarkable hapned this day onely 
we heard that the french were a going to join us upon 
conditions that we would trade with them.:{: 

the 25. We turned out and went to the Larm post 

* When Major Tiipper destroyed t^ie liglitlionse on Nantasket 
point, lie carried away all the furniture and the great lamp by which 
it was lighted. 

t The creek referred to is Stony hrook, northward from Eoxbury 
fort. 

J As early as July, 1775, Dr. Franklin had suggested the propri- 
ety of a political confederation of all the colonies, and the establish- 
ment of governmental relations with foreign powers, especially with 
France, which, it was Avell known, hated England. In November 
of that year, Benjamin Harrison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas John- 
son, John Dickenson, and John Jay, were appointed a committee to 
open and carry on correspondence with foreign governments ; and in 
March following, Silas Dcane was appointed a special agent of Con- 
gress to the court of France. Rumors of such intentions appear to 
have reached the army, according to our Journalist, as early as the 
24th of October, 1775. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 79 

and it was very cold and we came home and there was 
a high go of Drinking Brandy and several of the com- 
pany were taken not well prety soon after* nothing 
more this day. 

the 26. This morning early their was several Lai- 
dies came down from wrentham and they went to cam- 
bridg and the rest of their acts are they not writen in 
the Lamentations of Samuel Haws, finis. 

the 27. This day I went upon fatigue and we got 
our Stents done about noon. 

the 28. Nothing remarkable this day onely I was 
chose cook for our room consisting of 12 men and a 
hard game too. 

the 29. Being Sunday the officers had hard work to 
get hands for meting it was so cold nothing more this day. 

the 30. This day nothing remarkable hapned. 

the 31. NothinsT remarkable.! 

November 1775. 

the 1 . Las night the fire ran over Samuel Hawes's 
hair and that provoket him to wrath Nothing very re- 
rnarkable hapned this day that I know of. 

the 2. their was Some gentlemen and Laidies came 
down from Wrentham and they went to cambridg. 

* A very natural consequence. 

t During the whole of October, affairs were very quiet, and no 
skirmish of importance occurred. The " Essex Gazette" of the 19th 
said, " Scarcely a gun has been fired for a fortnight." On the 4th, 
a small fleet, under Captain MoAvatt, sailed from Boston harbor, and 
destroyed Falmouth (now Portland), Maine. On the 1.5th, a com. 
mittee from Congress arrived, to consult with Washington concern- 
ing the future, and a reorganization of the army. 



80 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 3. It was a very rainy day and we went to 
childses and had an old fudg fairyouwell my friends. 

the 4. Nothing remarkable hapned this day onely 
the gentry went home to Wrentham. 

the 5. Being the memorial 5th of novem. the enemy 
fired from every Ship in the harbom- nothing more re- 
markable this day. 

the 6. Nothing remarkable hapned this day. 

the 7. Their was a vendue opened att this house and 
their was not Less than a hundred and twenty Dollars 
worth of things vendued and sold at private sale and 
Swapt, 

the 8. Nothing remarkable hapned this day that I 
know of. 

the 9. Nothing remarkable hapned this day that is 
worth amentioning.* 

the 10. This day I went home upon furlow,f yester- 
day Sergent Yett went home. 

the 11. I went to captain whitings and nothing re- 
markable hapned. 

the 12. Being Sunday I went to meting Nothing 
more this day. 

the 13. This day the Long faced People trained at 
Wrentham and Serg Felt went upon the piquet and 
fired several times upon the centrys. 

the 14. This day I came down from Wrentham with 

* On this day there was quite a severe* skirmish occurred at Lech- 
mere's point, now Cambric! goport. 

t That is, a written permission from his commanding ofEcer, to 
leave for a specified time. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 81 

Sero- Felt and at niffht their was three men deserted 
from the floating Battery this day we had a Lottery 
and Serg Foster drawd a pair of Breeches* worth 5 
Dollars and their was considerable other tradeing car- 
ied on at nidit their was 8 men more deserted. 

the 16. Nothing remarkable hapned captain Pond 
Listed three or four men for the next campaign! att 
night it was very cold. 

the 17. Very blustering and their was a man Whipt 
thirty and nine Lashes for Stealing and getting Drunk 
and runnino- awav and afterw^ards he was drummed out 
of the camps thus he &c. 

the 18. Nothing remarkable hapned this day that I 
know of 

the 19. This day being Sunday it was very pleasant 
and we had Preaching Nothing more this day. 

the 20. This day nothing very remarkable at night 
their was a reorular deserted and Swam over to Dor- 

D 

Chester and escaped. 

* At that time leather breeches were much in vogue, because they 
were durable. The more costly ones of buckskin were worn only 
by officers. 

t Late in October a new organization of the army took place, and 
enlistments for a certain term were commenced. Hitherto there had 
been great confusion in the matter. The army had gathered around 
Boston from sudden impulse, and it was continually changing. The 
excitement which had brought them together had in a measure sub- 
sided, and enhstments went on slowly. After a month's exertions, 
only five thousand names Avere enrolled ; and Washington, lament- 
ing the dearth of public spirit, almost despaired. Alluding to the 
selfishness exhibited in camp, he says : " Such stock-jobbing and 
fertility in all low arts, to obtain advantages of one kind and anoth- 
er, I never saw before, and pray God I may never witness again." 

6 



82 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 21. This day Nothmf^ very remarkable this day 
the piquet was made easier by half &c. &c. 

the 22. To morrow is thanksgiveing this day ended 
without any thing remarkable. 

the 23. Being thanksgiveing I went with Serg Felt 
up to newtown and kept thanksgiveing their and re- 
turnd to our Barricks at night and we had not ben a 
bed long when our captain came to us and ordered us 
all to Lye upon our arms by order of General Wash- 
ington Lesemo* of the American Army incampt at cam- 
bridg and roxbury and other placesf nothing more this 
day that I know of onely 2 regulars deserted at night 
on cambridg side.^: 

the 24. Nothing hapned very remarkable this day 
that I know of. 

the 25. This morning Captain Pond inlisted several 
men for the next campaign ; o you nasty Sloven how 
your Book Looks. || 

the 26. Being Sunday it was Stormy Nothing re- 
markable this day. 

* Generalissimo. 

t On the previous day, General Putnam, witli a strong detach- 
ment, broke ground at Cobble hill, where the M'Lean Asylum now 
stands. The object was to erect batteries for the purpose of can- 
nonading Boston. It was expected the British troops would sally 
out of the city and attack them, and that expectation caused Wash- 
ington to issue the order for all the troops to be ready for action at 
a moment's warning. 

\ Frothingham says, " Two British sentinels came off in the night 
to the detachment" of General Putnam. 

II This remark refers to several blots of ink which disfigure the 
page of his Journal on Avhich he Avas Avriting. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 83 

the 27. Nothing very remarkable hapned this day. 

the 2S. Nothmg very Strange onely Peperiss cura- 
cle came out of Boston that old tory Dog. 

the 29. Nothing remarkable onely one of our Priva- 
teers took a prize richly Laden.* 

the 30. Nothing extreordenary this day that I know 
of. 

December. 

the 1. Nothing remarkable this day. 
the 2. This day I with a number of rispectable gen- 
tlemen wentf 

* That was the British storeship Nancy, captured off Cape Anne, 
and carried into that harbor, by Captain John Manly, commander 
of the American armed schooner Lee, one of the six vessels fitted 
out at Boston under the direction of Washington, before Congress 
had yet taken any measures to establish a navy. So valuable were 
the stores of the Nancy, that Washington supposed General Howe 
would immediately make efforts to recover her, and he had an ai-med 
force sent to Cape Anne to secure them. There were two thousand 
muskets, one hundred thousand flints, thirty thousand round shot for 
one, six, and twelve pounders, over thirty thousand musket-shot, and 
a thirteen-iuch brass mortar that weighed twenty-seven hundred 
pounds. The arrival of these produced great joy in the camp. Colo- 
nel Mbylan, describing the scene, says : " Old Put [General PutnaA] 
was mounted on the mortar, with a bottle of ram in his hand, stand- 
ing parson to christen, while god-father Mifflin [afterward General 
Mifflin] gave it the name of Congress^ 

On the 29th of November, Washington commenced planting a 
bomb-battery onLechmere's point, with the intention of bombarding 
the British works on Bunker hill. They completed it in the course 
of a few days, entirely unmolested. 

t The author did not expect to have his Journal published, or he 
would have omitted the entry here made. There seems nothing in 
it derogatory to his character, yet he has chosen words to express 
his thoughts not suited " to ears polite." 



84 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 3. Being Sunday it rained nothing remarkable 
hapned this day, 

the 4. Nothing remarkable hapnd this day at night 
we were ordered to Ly upon our arms.* 

the 5. Nothing Strange hapned this day. 

the 6. Nothing comical this day only their was con- 
siderable of tradeing caryd on.f 

the 7, This day nothing Strang. 

the 8. This day I with several more inlisted for the 
year 1776 under captain Oliver Pond. 

the 9. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 10. This day the Long faced People t arived 
here from wrentham and other places. 

the 11. This day I past muster before general Spen- 
cer] | nothing more this day. 

the 12. This day it was very cold and the melitia 
had to mount guard that is good for them. 

the 13. This day I went to cambridg and viewed 
the works on copple^ hill.^ 

* Washington was now in hourly expectation of an attack from 
the British, and, knowing his own weakness, he considered his situa- 
tion very critical. In vigilance alone seemed a security for safety. 

t The Yankee love of trade and barter appears to have been very 
prevalent in the camp. 

I New militia recruits from the country, who had never seen service. 

II General Joseph Spencer, of East Haddam, Connecticut. He 
remained in service until 1778, when he resigned, left the army, and 
became a member of Congress. He held rank next to Putnam in 
the army at Boston. He died in 1789, at the age of seventy years. 

§ Cobble. 

^ These, it is said, were the most perfect of any of the fortifica- 
tions raised around Boston at that time. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 85 

the 14. This day I went to Watertown* with Lieu- 
tenant Bacon and a number of others in order to get 
some coats but we could not find any that suited us 
and so we returned.! 

the 15. This day nothing very remarkable. 

the 16. This day nothing strange at night their was 
an atempt made to blow up A Ship but it failed also 
this night we heard that Quebeck was taken. + 

the 17. Being Sunday it was foul weather nothing 
remarkable hapned this day onely the enemy fired at 
our men on Lechmers|| Point and wounded one and 
our men returned the fire from copple hill. 

the 18. This day the Ship moved out of the Bay 
and the Enemy threw Bombs from mount Hoordom§ 
but did no Damage. 

the 19. This day nothing remarkable hapned. 

the 20. Nothing strange this day. 

the 21. This day it was very cold nothing strange 
this day. 

the 22. Nothing remarkable this day. 

* Seven miles northwest from Boston. It was then the seat of 
the revolutionary government in Massachusetts. 

t Washington issued a notice, on the 28th of Octoher, that tailors 
would be employed to make coats for those who wished them. 

I This was a mistake. On the 13th of September, Colonel Bene- 
dict Arnold left Cambridge with a detachment to cross the country 
by the way of the Kennebec, to invade Canada and capture Quebec. 
Arnold's army suffered terribly on the march, and arrived at Point 
Levi, opposite Quebec, on the 9th of November, and prepared to 
attack the city. He was obliged to postpone his attack, and Quebec 
never fell into the hands of the patriots. 

II Lechmere's. § A nickname given to Bunker's hill. 



86 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 23. Nothing strange this day. 

the 24. Ditto Ditto Ditto. 

the 25. Good. 

th e 26. Very cold this day nothing remarkable this day. 

the 27. Nothing remarkable to day. 

the 28. Nothing strange this day. 

the 29. Nothing strange this day Last Night our men 
made an atempt to take Bunker hill but their Scheem 
was frustrated &c.* 

the 30, 31. Nothing remarkable. 

January. 

the 1. A Happy new year 1776 Behold the man 
three score and ten upon a Dying Bed he'se run his 
race and get no Grace and Awful Sight indeed Noth- 
ing very remarkable this 1 day of January 1776 An- 
oquedomina.f 

the 2. Nothing strange this day. 

Ihe 3. 20 men out of each Regement in Roxbury 
side to cut fachinest I believe we have it by and by. 

* On the night of the 2Sth, an nnsuccessful attemjit was made to 
surprise the British outposts on Charlestown neck, and then to at- 
tack the enemy on Bunker's hill. The Americans started to cross 
from Cobble hill, on the ice. One of the men slipped and fell when 
they were half Avay across, and his gun went off. This alarmed the 
British, and they were on their guard. It was computed that, from 
the burning of Charlestown, on the 17th of June, until Christmas 
day, the British had fired more than two thousand shot and shells. 
They hurled more than three hundred bombshells at PloAved hill, 
and one hundred at Lechmere's point. Gordon says that, with all 
this waste of metal, they " killed only seven men on the Cambridge 
side, and just a dozen on the Roxbury side." 

t Anno Domini. | Fascines. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 87 

the 4. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 5-7. Nothing- strano-e. 

the 8. At night some of om- brave heroick Americans 
went Past the Enemys Brest Work at Bunker hill and 
burnt several housen at the foot of Bunker hill and took 
5 men and 1 woman Prisoners and came of as far as 
copple hill when the flames began to extend and the 
enemy that were in the fort perceiving a number of 
men gather round the fire & suposing them to be our 
men they kept up a bright fire for the space of near 
half an hour upon their own men devillightfooly* 
theyt .... 

the 9. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 10. Nothing very remarkable this day it was 
very cold. 

the 11. Nothing very remarkable this day. 

the 12. All furlows stopt this day, 

* Delightfully. 

t When Chai'lestown was burned, fourteen houses escaped the 
flames. These were occupied by the British ; and, on the 8th of 
January, General Putnam sent Major Knowltou (afterward killed 
at Harlem), with a small party, to set those houses on fire. The 
affair was injudiciously managed, and, before all could be fired, the 
flames of one alarmed the British in the fort. They discharged can- 
nons and small-arms in all directions, in their confusion and affright. 
At that moment a play, called " The Blockade of Boston," written 
for the occasion by General Burgoyne, was in course of performance 
in the city. In the midst of the scene in which Washington was 
burlesqued, a sergeant dashed into the theatre and exclaimed, " The 
Yankees are attacking Bunker's bill !" The audience thought it 
was part of the play, until General Howe said, " Officers, to your 
alarm-posts !" Then M'omen shrieked and fainted, and the people 
rushed to the streets in srreat confusion. 



88 • MILITARY JOURNAL. 

the 13. Nothing strange this day. 

the 14. Being Sunday nothing remarkable this day. 

the 15. This day we heard that the regulars had 
taken Providence and burnt all the housen except two.* 

the 16. Nothing remarkable hapened this day at 
night we were all ordered to Ly upon our arms. 

the 17. This day we had the disagreeable news that 
our men were defeated that went to Quebeck and that 
General montgomery and colonel Arnold were either 
killed or taken Prisoners but we Pray God thy news 
may prove falcef at night it was thought their was a 
spy out from Boston and our centrys fired at him but 
we dont know the Sertainty of it cold weather for the 
Season. 

the 18. Nothing strange this day. 

* Sir James Wallace commanded a small British flotilla in Nar- 
raganset bay, during tlie summer and autumn of 1775. He was 
really a commissioned pirate, for he burnt and plundered dwellings, 
and stores, and plantations, wherever he pleased. The fact above 
alluded to was the plunder and destruction of the houses on the 
beautiful island of Providence (not the town of Providence) by that 
marauder, at the close of November, 1775, He also desolated Con- 
nanicut island, opposite Newport ; and every American vessel that 
entered that harbor was seized and sent to Boston. 

t Arnold, with only seven hundred men, appeared before Quebec 
on the 18th of November, and demanded its surrender. He was 
soon compelled to retire, and, marching up the St. Lawi-ence twenty 
miles, he there met, in December, General Montgomery, Avith a 
small force, descending from Montreal. They marched against 
Quebec, and, early in the morning of the 31st of December, pro- 
ceeded to assail the city at three distinct points. Montgomery was 
killed, Morgan and many of the Americans were made prisoners, and 
Arnold, who was severely wounded, retired to Sillery, three miles 
above Quebec. 



THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 89 

the 19. This day we heard that our men had taken 
a Ship Loaded with Gunpowder the truth of it we have 
not yet Learned but we hope it will prove true.* 

the 20. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 21. Ditto. 

the 22. Nothing strange. 

the 23. Nothing remarkable. • 

the 24. This day capt Pond came from Wrentham 
Nothing remarkable. 

the 25. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 26. Nothing very remarkable. 

the 27. Nothing remarkable this day. 

the 28. Nothing remarkable. 

the 29. This day we moved to Dorchester into the 
widow Birds house. 

the 30. Nothing strange this day. 

the 31. Ditto. 

February. 
the 1. This day nothing remarkable, 
the 2. Ditto. 

the 3. Nothing Remarkable this day. 
the 4. Ditto. 

the 5. The Lobsters came out almost to copple hill 
and took 3 cows and killed them and were fired upon 

* Several of the prizes captured by Manly and others contained 
powder and arms ; and late in December, Colonel (afterward Gen- 
eral) Knox aiTived from Ticonderoga with forty-two sled-loads of 
cannons, mortars, lead, balls^ flints, &c. By the close of January, 
powder became ciuite plentiful in the American camp. 



90 MILITARY JOURNAL. 

from copple hill and they were obligd to mak of Leav- 
ing their Booty behind them. 

the 6. The melitious men* marched from Wrentham 
and arived in camp at Dorchester. 

the 7. Nothing very remarkable this day. 

the 8. Their was a number of our men went a Sea- 
ting on the Bay near.Bosston common and the Enemy 
fired upwards of a hundred small arms that did no dam- 
age. 

the 9. Nothing very remarkable at night their was 
thre of our Amarican Boys made their escape from the 
Enemy in Boston and were taken up by our men who 
were Patroling on Dorchester Point to and they brought 
of things to considerable value. 

the 10. Nothing Strange this day.f 

* Militia-men, 

t Here the Journal ends abruptly, and we have no clew to the 
writer afterward. As he had enlisted for the campaign of 1776, he 
doubtless remained with the army until after the expulsion of the 
British from Boston, in March following, unless he was killed in some 
of the skirmishes that frequently occurred, or was obliged to leave 
the army on account of sickness. Whatever was his fate, the veil 
of oblivion is drawn over it, for he was one of the thousands who 
with warm hearts and stout hands struggled in the field for the lib- 
erties of their country, lie in unhonored graves, and have had no 
biographers. If he lived until the conflict ended, and died in his 
native town, no doubt his grave is in the old churchyard at "Wren- 
tham. His family was among the earliest settlers there, for Daniel 
Haws was a resident of the village when it was burnt, in the time 
of King Philip's war, almost two hundred years ago ; and on a 
plain slab in that old burial-place is the name of Ebenezer Haws, 
who died in 1812, at the age of ninety-one years. 



SUPPLEMENT, 



CONTAINING 



OFFICIAL PAPERS ON THE SKIR.IIISUES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD, 



AND A LIST OF REVOLUTIONARY ARTICLES IN THE POUGHKEEPSIE MUSEUM. 



SUPPLEMENT. 
OFFICIAL PAPERS 

CONCERNING 

THE SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 

In the preceding Journal of a Soldier, in 1775, his 
narrative commences on the day of the skirmishes at 
Lexington and Concord, the opening conflicts of the 
Revolution. Some official matters relating to those 
events, which are inaccessible to the general reading- 
public, will doubtless be acceptable, as they certainly 
are appropriate, in this connection. 

The skirmishes occurred on the 19th of April, 1775. 
On the 22d, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts 
assembled, and, deeming it important to have the whole 
truth known, appointed a committee to take depositions 
in relation to the transactions of the British troops in 
their route to and from Concord. Another committee 
was appointed the following day, consisting of Dr. 
Church, Elbridge Gerry, and Thomas Cushing, to draw 
up a narrative of the massacre. The committee to 



94 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

take depositions held their sessions at Concord and 
Lexington, on the 23d and 25th of April. Feeling it 
to be expedient to send an account immediately to 
England, a committee, consisting of Dr. Warren, Mr. 
Freeman, Mr. Gardiner, and Colonel Stone, was chosen 
to prepare a letter to Dr. Franklin, the colonial agent 
in London. They reported a letter, and also an "Ad- 
dress to the Inhabitants of Great Britain," on the same 
day. Captain Richard Derby, of Salem, was employed 
to proceed immediately with the despatches. He placed 
them in the hands of Doctor Franklin on the 29th of 
May, and on the following day the address was printed 
'and circulated. It gave the first intelligence of the 
skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, to the British 
public. 

The following, copied from the Journals of the 
Continental Congress, are the several papers referred 
to: — 

" To the Hon. Benjamin Franklin, Esq., at London. 
" In Provincial Congress, Watertown, April 26, 1775. 
" Sir : From the entire confidence we repose in 
your faithfulness and abilities, we consider it the hap- 
piness of this colony that the important trust of agency 
for it, in this day of unequalled distress, is devolved on 
your hands, and we doubt not your attachment to the 
cause and liberties of mankind will make every possi- 
ble exertion in our behalf a pleasure to you ; although 
our circumstances will compel us often to interrupt 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 95 

your repose, by matters that will surely give you pain. 
A singular instance hereof is the occasion of the pres- 
ent letter. The contents of this packet will be our 
apology for troubling you with it. 

" From these you will see how, and by whom, we 
are at last plunged into the horrors of a most unnatu- 
ral war.. 

" Our enemies, we are told, have despatched to Great 
Britain a fallacious account of the tragedy they have 
begun ; to prevent the operation of which to the public 
injury, we have engaged the vessel that conveys this 
to you, as a packet in the service of this colony, and 
we request your assistance in supplying Captain Derby, 
who commands her, with such necessaries as he shall 
want, on the credit of your constituents in Massachu- 
setts Bay. 

" But we most ardently wish that the several papers 
herewith enclosed may be immediately printed and dis- 
persed through every town in England, and especially 
communicated to the lord-mayor, aldermen, and coun- 
cil, of the city of London, that they may take such 
order thereon as they may think proper. And we are 
confident your fidelity will make such improvement of 
them as shall convince all, who are riot determined to 
be in everlasting blindness, that it is the united efforts 
of both Englands that can save either : but that what- 
ever price our brethren in the one may be pleased to 
put on their constitutional liberties, we are authorized 
to assure you that the inhabitants of the other, with the 



96 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

greatest unanimity, are inflexibly resolved to sell theirs 
only at the price of their lives. 

" Signed by order of the Provincial Congress, 
"Joseph Warren, President, P. T. 
"A true copy from the original minutes, 

" Samuel Freeman, Sec. P. T." 

The depositions relative to the commencement of 
hostilities are as follows : — 

" Lexington, April 25, 1775. 

" We, Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring, and Elijah 
Sanderson, all of lawful age, and of Lexington, in the 
county of Middlesex, and colony of the Massachusetts 
Bay in New England, do testify and declare that, on 
the evening of the 18th of April, instant, being on the 
road between Concord and Lexington, and all of us 
mounted on horses, we were, about ten of the clock, 
suddenly surprised by nine persons, whom we took to 
be regular officers, who rode up to us, mounted and 
armed, each having a pistol in his hand, and, after put- 
ting pistols to our breasts, and seizing the bridles of 
our horses, they swore, if we stirred another step, we 
should be all dead men, upon which we surrendered 
ourselves. They detained us until two o'clock the 
next morning, in which time they searched and greatly 
abused us, having first inquired about the magazine at 
Concord, whether any guards were posted there, and 
whether the bridges were up, and said four or five regi- 
ments of regulars would be in possession of the stores 
soon. They then brought us back to Lexington, cut 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 97 

the horses' bridles and girths, turned them loose, and 
then left us. " Solomon Brown, 

"Jonathan Loring, Elijah Sanderson." 

" Lexington, April 25, 1775. 
" I, Elijah Sanderson, above named, do further tes- 
tify and declare, that I was on Lexington common, the 
morning of the 19th of April aforesaid, having been 
dismissed by the officers above mentioned, and saw a 
large body of regular troops advancing toward Lexing- 
ton company, many of whom were then dispersing. I 
heard one of the regulars, whom I took to be an offi- 
cer, say, " Damn them, yve will have them ;" and im- 
mediately the regulars shouted aloud, run and fired 
upon the Lexington company, which did not fire a gun 
before the regulars discharged on them. Eight of the 
Lexington company were killed while they were dis- 
persing, and at a considerable distance from each other, 
and many wounded ; and, although a spectator, I nar- 
rowly escaped with my life. 

"Elijah Sanderson." 

" Lexington, April 23, 1775. 
" I, Thomas Rice Willard, of lawful age, do testify 
and declare that, being in the house of Daniel Harring- 
ton, of said Lexington, on the 19th instant, in the morn- 
ing, about half an hour before sunrise, looked out at 
the window of said house, and saw (as I suppose) about 
four hundred regulars in one body, coming up the road, 
and marched toward the north part of the common, 

7 



\'^. 



98 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

back of the meeting-house of said Lexington ; and as 
soon as said regulars were against the east end of the 
meeting-house, the commanding officer said something, 
what I know not, but upon that the regulars ran till 
they came within about eight or nine rods of about a 
hundred of the militia of Lexington, who were collected 
on said common, at which time the militia of Lexington 
dispersed. Then the officers made a huzza, and the 
private soldiers succeeded them : directly after this, an 
officer rode before the regulars to the other side of the 
body, and hallooed after the militia of said Lexington, 
and said, " Lay down your arms, damn you, why don't 
you lay down your arms ?" — and that there was not a 
gun fired till the militia of Lexington were dispersed. 
And further saith not. 

"Thomas Rice Willard." 

" Lexington, Ajml 25, 1775. 
" Simon Winship, of Lexington, in the county of Mid- 
dlesex, and province of Massachusetts Bay, New Eng- 
land, being of lawful age, testifieth and saith, that on 
the 19th April instant, about four o'clock in the morn- 
ing, as he was passing the public road in said Lexing- 
ton, peaceably and unarmed, about two miles and a 
half distant from the meetinjj-house in said Lexing-ton, 
he was met by a body of the king's regular troops, and 
being stopped by some officers of said troops, was com- 
manded to dismount. Upon asking why he must dis- 
mount, he was obliged by force to quit his horse, and 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 99 

ordered to march in the midst of the body ; and, being 
examined whether he had been warning the minute- 
men, he answered, * No, but had been out, and was 
then returning to his father's.' Said AVinship farther 
testifies that he marched with said troops, till he came 
within about half a quarter of a mile of said meeting- 
house, w^here an officer commanded the troops to halt, 
and then to prime and load : this being done, the said 
troops marched on till they came within a few rods of 
Captain Parker's company, who were partly collected 
on the place of parade, when said Winship observed 
an officer at the head of said troops, flourishing his 
sword, and with a loud voice giving the word, ' Fire ! 
fire !' which was instantly followed by a discharge of 
arms from said regular troops ; and said Winship is 
positive, and in the most solemn manner declares, that 
there was no discharge of arms on either side, till the 
word ' Fire' was given by the said officer as above. 

"Simon Winship." 

"Lexington, April 25, 1775. 
*' I, John Parker, of lawful age, and commander of 
the militia in Lexington, do testify and declare that, on 
the 19th instant, in the morning, about one of the clock, 
being informed that there were a number of regula- 
officers riding up and down the road, stopping and in- 
sulting people as they passed the road ; and also was 
informed that a number of regular troops were on their 
march from Boston, in order to take the province stores 



100 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

at Concord, ordered our militia to meet on the common 
in said Lexington, to consult what to do, and concluded 
not to be discovered, nor meddle or make with said 
regular troops (if they should approach), unless they 
should insult or molest us ; and, upon their sudden ap- 
proach, I immediately ordered our militia to disperse, 
and not to fire. Immediately said troops made their 
appearance, and rushed furiously, fired upon, and killed 
eight of our party, without receiving any provocation 
therefor from us. 

"John Parkee." 

" Lexington, April 24, 1775. 
" I, John Robins, being of lawful age, do testify and 
say that, on the 19th instant, the company under the 
command of Captain John Parker, being drawn up 
(some time before sunrise) on the green or common, 
and I being in the front rank, there suddenly appeared 
a number of the king's troops, about a thousand, as I 
thought, at the distance of about sixty or seventy yards 
from us, huzzaing, and on a quick pace toward us, 
with three officers in their front on horseback, and on 
full gallop toward us, the foremost of which cried, 
' Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye rebels !' upon 
which said company dispersing, the foremost of the 
three officers ordered their men, saying, * Fire, by God ! 
fire !' at which moment we received a very heavy and 
close fire from them ; at which instant, being wounded, 
I fell, and several of our men were shot dead by me. 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 101 

Captain Parker's men, I believe, had not then fired a 
gun. And further the deponent saith not. 

"John Robins." 

. ' "Lexington, 4/''«^ 25, 1775. 

" We, Benjamin Tidd, of Lexington, and Joseph Ab- 
bot, of Lincoln, in the county of Middlesex, and colony 
of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, of lawful age, 
do testify and declare that, on the morning of the 19th 
of April instant, about five o'clock, being on Lexington 
common, and mounted on horses, we saw a body of 
regular troops marching up to the Lexington company, 
which was then dispersing. Soon after, the regulars 
fired, first, a few guns, which we took to be pistols 
from some of the regulars who were mounted on horses, 
and then the said regulars fired a volley or two before 
any guns were fired by the Lexington company ; our 
horses immediately started, and we rode off. And fur- 
ther say not. 

"Benjamin Tidd, Joseph Abbot." 

" Lexington, April 25, 1775. 
"We, Nathaniel Mullokin, Philip Russell, Moses 
Harrington, jun., Thomas and Daniel Harrington, Wil- 
liam Grimes, William Tidd, Isaac Hastings, Jonas 
Stone, jun., James Wyman, Thaddeus Harrington, John 
Chandler, Joshua Reed, jun., Joseph Simonds, Phineas 
Smith, John Chandler, jun., Reuben Cock, Joel Viles, 
Nathan Reed, Samuel Tidd, Benjamin Lock, Thomas 



102 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

Winship, Simeon Snow, John Smith, Moses Harring- 
ton the 3d, Joshua Reed, Ebenezer Parker, John Har- 
rington, Enoch Wilhngton, John Hormer, Isaac Green, 
Phineas Stearns, Isaac Durant, and Thomas Headley, 
jun., all of lawful age, and inhabitants of Lexington, 
in the county of Middlesex, and colony of the Massa- 
chusetts Bay, in New England, do testify and declare, 
that, on the 19th of April instant, about one or two 
o'clock in the morning, being informed that several offi- 
cers of the regulars had, the evening before, been riding 
up and down the road, and had detained and insulted 
the inhabitants passing the same ; and also understand- 
ing that a body of regulars were marching from Boston 
toward Concord, with intent (as it was supposed) to 
take the stores, belonging to the colony, in that town, 
we were alarmed, and having met at the place of our 
company's parade, were dismissed by our captain, John 
Parker, for the present, with orders to be ready to at- 
tend at the beat of the drum. We further testify and 
declare, that, about five o'clock in the morning, hearing 
our drum beat, we proceeded toward the parade, and 
soon found that a large body of troops were marching 
toward us. Some of our company were coming up to 
the parade, and othets had reached it, at which time 
the company began to disperse. While our backs 
were turned on the troops, we were fired on by them, 
and a number of our men were instantly killed and 
wounded. Not a gun was fired by any person in our 
company on the regulars, to our knowledge, before 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 103 

they fired on us, and they continued firing until we 
had all made our escape. 

" Signed by each of the above deponents." 

" Lexington, 25th of April, 1775. 
" We, Nathaniel Parkhurst, Jonas Parker, John Mun- 
roe, jun., John Winship, Solomon Pierce, John Muzzy, 
Abner Meeds, John Bridge, jun., Ebenezer Bowman, 
William Munroe the 3d, Micah Hager, Samuel Saun- 
derson, Samuel Hastings, and James Brown, of Lex- 
ington, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of the 
Massachusetts Bay, in New England, and all of lawful 
age, do testify and say, that, on the morning of the 
19th of April instant, about one or two o'clock, being 
informed that a number of regular officers had been 
riding up and down the road the evening and night 
preceding, and that some of the inhabitants, as they 
were passing, had been insulted by the officers, and 
stopped by them ; and being also informed that the 
regular troops were on their march from Boston, in or- 
der (as it was said) to take the colony stores then de- 
posited at Concord, we met on the parade of our com- 
pany in this town. After the company had collected, 
we were ordered by Captain Parker (who commanded 
us) to disperse for the present, and to be ready to at- 
tend the beat of the drum ; and accordingly the com- 
pany went into houses near the place of parade. We 
further testify and say, that, about five o'clock in the 
morning, we attended the beat of our drum, and were 



104 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

formed on the parade ; we were faced toward the reg- 
ulars then marching up to us, and some of our com- 
pany were comnig to the parade with their backs tow- 
ard the troops, and others, on the parade, began to dis- 
perse, when the regulars fired on the company, before 
a gun was fired by any of our company on them. 
They killed eight of our company, and wounded sev- 
eral, and continued their fire until we had all made our 
escape. " Signed by each of the deponents." 

"Lexington, April 25, 1775. 
" I, Timothy Smith, of Lexington, in the county of 
Middlesex, and colony of Massachusetts Bay, in New 
England, being of lawful age, do testify and declare, 
that, on the morning of the 19th of April instant, being 
on Lexington common, as a spectator, I saw a large 
body of regular troops marching up toward the Lex- 
ington company, then dispersing, and likewise saw the 
regular troops fire on the Lexington company, before 
the latter fired a gun. I immediately ran, and a volley 
was discharged at me, which put me in imminent dan- 
ger of losing my life. I soon returned to the common, 
and saw eight of the Lexington men who were killed, 
and lay bleeding at a considerable distance from each 
other ; and several were wounded. And further saith 
not. "Timothy Smith." 

" Lexington, April 25, 1775. 
" We, Levi Mead and Levi Harrington, both of Lex- 
ington, in the county of Middlesex, and colony of Mas- 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 105 

cliuseits Bay, in New England, and of lawful age, do 
testify and declare, that, on the morning of the 19th 
of April, being on Lexington commons, as spectators, 
we saw a large body of regular troops marching up 
toward the Lexington company ; and some of the reg- 
ulars, on horses, Avhom we took to be officers, fired a 
pistol or two on the Lexington company, which was 
then dispersing. These were the first guns that were 
fired, and they were immediately followed by several 
volleys from the regulars, by which eight men belong- 
ing to said company were killed, and several wounded. 
"Levi Harrington, Levi Mead." 

"Lexington, April 25, 1775. 
" I, WiUiam Draper, of lawful age, and an inhabitant 
of Colrain, in the county of Hampshire, and colony of 
Massachusetts Bay, in New England, do testify and 
declare, that, being on the parade of said Lexington, 
April 19th instant, about half an hour before sunrise, 
the king's regular troops appeared at the meeting-house 
of Lexington. Captain Parker's company, who were 
drawn up back of said meeting-house on the parade, 
turned from said troops, making their escape, by dis- 
persing. In the meantime, the regular troops made a 
huzza, and ran toward Captain Parker's company, who 
were dispersing ; and, immediately after the huzza was 
made, the commanding officer of said troops (as I took 
him) gave the command to the said troops — "Fire! 
fire! damn you, fire!" — and immediately they fired, 



106 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

before any of Captain Parker's company fired, I then 
being within three or four rods of said regular troops. 
And further say not. "William Draper." 

" Lexington, Ajyril 23, 1775. 
" I, Thomas Fessenden, of lawful age, testify and de- 
clare, that, being in a pasture near the meeting-house, 
at said Lexington, on Wednesday last, at about half an 
hour before sunrise, I saw a number of regular troops 
pass speedily by said meeting-house, on their way tow- 
ard a company of militia of said Lexington, who were 
assembled to the number of about one hundred in a 
company, at the distance of eighteen or twenty rods 
from said meeting-house ; and after they had passed 
by said meeting-house, I saw three officers, on horse- 
back, advance to the front of said regulars, when one 
of them, being within six rods of the said militia, cried 
out, " Disperse, you rebels, immediately !" on which he 
brandished his sword over his head three times : mean- 
while, the second officer, who w^as about two rods be- 
hind him, fired a pistol, pointed at said militia, and the 
regulars kept huzzaing till he had finished brandishing 
his sword ; and when he had thus finished brandishing 
his sword, he pointed -it down toward said militia, and 
immediately on which the said regulars fired a volley 
at the militia, and then I ran off as fast as I could, 
while they continued firing till I got out of their reach. 
I further testify, that, as soon as ever the officer cried, 
"Disperse, you rebels," the said company of militia 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 107 

dispersed every way, as fast as they could ; and, while 
they were dispersing-, the regulars kept firing at them 
incessantly. And further saith not. 

** Thomas Fessenden." 

" Lincoln, April 23, 1 775. 
" I, John Bateman, belonging to the fifty-second regi- 
ment, commanded by Colonel Jones, on Wednesday 
morning, on the 19th day of April instant, was in the 
party marching to Concord, being at Lexington, in the 
county of Middlesex, being nigh the meeting-house in 
said Lexington, there was a small party of men gath- 
ered together at that place, when our said troops 
marched by ; and I testify and declare that I heard the 
word of command given to the troops to fire, and some 
of said troops did fire, and I saw one of said small 
party lay dead on the ground nigh said meeting-house ; 
and I testify that I never heard any of the inhabitants 
so much as fire one gun on said troops. 

"John Bateman." 

"Lexington, April 23, 1775. 
" We, John Hoar, John Whithead, Abraham Garfield, 
Benjamin Munroe, Isaac Parks, William Hosmer, John 
Adams, Gregory Stone, all of Lincoln, in the county 
of Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay, all of lawful age, do 
testify and say that, on Wednesday last, we were as- 
sembled at Concord, in the morning of said day, in 
consequence of information received that a brigade of 
regular troops were on their march to the said town 



108 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

of Concord, who had killed six men at the town of Lex- 
ington. About an hour afterward, we saw them ap- 
proaching, to the number, as we apprehended, of about 
twelve hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about 
eighty rods back, and the said troops then took posses- 
sion of the hill where we were first posted. Presently 
after this we saw the troops moving toward the north 
bridge, about one mile from the said Concord meeting- 
house. We then immediately went before them and 
passed the bridge just before a party of them, to the 
number of about two hundred, arrived. They there 
left about one half of their two hundred at the bridge, 
and proceeded with the rest toward Colonel Barrett's, 
about two miles from the said bridge. We then, see- 
ing several fires in the town, thought the houses in 
Concord were in danger, and marched toward the said 
bridge ; and the troops that were stationed there, ob- 
serving our approach, marched back over the bridge, 
and then took up some of the planks. We then hast- 
ened our march toward the bridge, and, when we had 
got near the bridge, they fired on our men — first three 
guns, one after the other, and then a considerable num- 
ber more ; and then, and not before (having orders from 
our commanding officers not to fire till we were fired 
upon), we fired upon the regulars, and they retreated. 
On their retreat throuofh the town of Lexing-ton to 
Charlestown, they ravaged and destroyed private prop- 
erty, and burnt three houses, one barn, and one shop. 
" Signed by each of the above deponents." 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 109 

" Lexington, April 23, 1775. 
" We, Nathan Barret, captain ; Jonathan Farrar, Jo- 
seph Butler, and Francis Wheeler, lieutenants ; John 
Barret, ensign; John Brown, Silas Walker, Ephraim 
Melvin, Nathan Buttrick, Stephen Hosmer, jun., Samu- 
el Barret, Thomas Jones, Joseph Chandler, Peter Wheel- 
er, Nathan Pierce, and Edward Richardson, all of Con- 
cord, in the county of Middlesex, in the province of 
Massachusetts Bay, of lawful age, testify and declare, 
that, on Wednesday, the 19th instant, about an hour after 
sunrise, we assembled on a hill near the meeting-house 
in Concord aforesaid, in consequence of an information 
that a number of regular troops had killed six of our 
countrymen at Lexington, and were on their march to 
said Concord ; and, about an hour afterward, we saw 
them approaching, to the number, as we imagine, of 
about twelve hundred ; on which we retreated to a hill 
about eighty rods back, and the aforesaid troops then 
took possession of a hill where we were first posted. 
Presently after this, we saw them moving toward the 
north bridge, about one mile from said meeting-house ; 
we then immediately went before them, and passed the 
bridge just before a party of them, to the number of 
about two hundred, arrived. They there left about 
one half of these two hundred at the bridge, and pro- 
ceeded with the rest toward Colonel Barret's, about 
two miles from the said bridge. We then, seeing sev- 
eral fires in the town thought our houses were in dan- 
ger, and immediately marched back toward said bridge, 



110 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

and the troops who were stationed there, observing our 
approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took 
up some of the planks. We then hastened our steps 
toward the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge, 
they fired on our men — first three guns, one after the 
other, and then a considerable number more ; upon 
which, and not before (having orders from our com- 
manding officer not to fire till we were fired upon), we 
fired upon the regulars, and they retreated. At Con- 
cord, and on their retreat through Lexington, they plun- 
dered many houses, burnt three at Lexington, together 
with a shop and barn, and committed damage, more or 
less, to almost every house from Concord to Charles- 
town. 

" Signed by the above deponents." 

" We, Joseph Butler and Ephraim Melvin, do testify 
and declare, that, when the regular troops fired upon 
our people at the north bridge, in Concord, as related 
in the foregoing depositions, they shot one, and we be- 
lieve two, of our people, before we fired a single gun 

at them. 

"Joseph Butler, Ephraim Melvin. 
" Lexington, April 23, 1775." 

" Concord, April 23, 1775. 
" I, Timothy Minot, jun., of Concord, on the 1 9th day 
of this instant, April, after that I had heard of the reg- 
ular troops firing upon Lexington men, and fearing that 
hostilities might be committed at Concord, thought it 
my incumbent duty to secure my family. After I had 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. Ill 

secured my family, some time after that, returning tow- 
ard my own dwelling, and finding that the bridge on 
the north part of said Concord was guarded by regular 
troops, being a spectator of what had happened at said 
bridge, declare that the regular troops stationed on said 
bridge, after they saw the men that were collected on 
the westerly side of said bridge, marched toward said 
bridge ; then the troops returned toward the easterly 
side of said bridge, and formed themselves, as I thought, 
for regular fight : after that they fired one gun, then 
two or three more, before the men that were stationed 
on the "westerly part of said bridge fired upon them. 

"Timothy Minot, jun." 

" Lexington, April 23, 1775. 
"I, James Barret, of Concord, colonel of a regiment 
of militia, in the county of Middlesex, do testify and 
say that, on Wednesday morning last, about daybreak, 
I was informed of the approach of a number of the 
regular troops to the town of Concord, where were some 
magazines belonging to this province, when there was 
assembled some of the militia of this and the neigh- 
boring towns, I ordered them to march to the north 
bridge (so called), which they had passed and were 
taking up. I ordered said militia to march to said 
bridge and pass the same, but not to fire on the king's 
troops unless they were first fired upon. We advanced 
near said bridge, when the said troops fired upon our 
militia, and killed two men dead on the spot, and 



112 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

wounded several others, which was the first firing of 

guns in the town of Concord. My detachment then 

returned the fire, which killed and wounded several 

of the king's troops. 

"James Barret." 

" Lexington, Ajml 23, 1775. 
" We, Bradbury Robinson, Samuel Spring, Thaddeus 
Bancroft, all of Concord, and James Adams, of Lexing- 
ton, all in the county of Middlesex, all of lawful age, 
do testify and say, that, on Wednesday morning last, 
near ten of the clock, we saw near one hundred of the 
regular troops, being in the town of Concord, at the 
north bridge in said town (so called) ; and having passed 
the same, they were taking up said bridge, when about 
three hundred of our militia were advancing toward 
said bridge, in order to pass said bridge, when, without 
saying anything to us, they discharged a number of 
guns on us, which killed two men dead on the spot, 
and wounded several others ; when we returned the 
fire on them, which killed two of them, and wounded 
several, which was the beginning of hostilities in the 
tovvn of Concord. 

"Bradbury Robinson, Thaddeus Bancroft, 
"Samuel Spring, James Adams.'' 

" Worcester, Ajml 26, 1775. 
" Hannah Bradish, of that part of Cambridge called 
Menotomy, and daughter of Timothy Paine, of Worces- 
ter, in the county of Worcester, Esq., of lawful age. 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 113 

testifies and says, that, about five o'clock on Wednes- 
day last, afternoon, being in her bedchamber, with her 
infant child, about eight days old, she was surprised 
by the firing of the king's troops and our people, on 
their return from Concord. She being weak and un- 
able to go out of her house, in order to secure herself 
and family, they all retired into the kitchen, in the back 
part of the house. She soon found the house surround- 
ed with the king's troops ; that upon observation made, 
at least seventy bullets were shot into the front part of 
the house ; several bullets lodged in the kitchen where 
she was, and one passed through an easy-chair she had 
just gone from. The door of the front part of the house 
was broke open ; she did not see any soldiers in the 
house, but supposed, by the noise, they were in the 
front. After the troops had gone off, she missed the 
following things, which, she verily believes, were taken 
out of the house by the king's troops, viz., one rich bro- 
cade gown, called a negligee, one lutestring gown, one 
white quilt, one pair of brocade shoes, three shifts, eight 
white aprons, three caps, one case of ivory knives and 
forks, and several other small articles. 

"Hannah Bradish." 

Province of the ) ^nr^ . ., „^ ,„„^ 

Massachusetts Bay, } Worcester, ss., Aprd 26, 1775. 

" Mrs. Hannah Bradish, the above deponent, maketh 
oath before us, the subscribers, two of his majesty's 
justices of the peace for the county of Worcester, and 
of the quorum, that the above deposition, according to 



114 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

her best recollection, is the truth. Which deposition 

is taken in perpetuam rei memoriam. 

" Thomas Steel, 
"Timothy Paine." 

" Concord, April 23, 1775. 
" I, James Marr, of lawful age, testify and say, that, 
in the evening of the 18th instant, I received orders 
from George Hutchinson, adjutant of the fourth regi- 
ment of the regular troops stationed at Boston, to pre- 
pare and march : to which orders I attended, and 
marched to Concord, where I was ordered by an offi- 
cer with about one hundred men to guard a certain 
bridge there. While attending that service, a number 
of people came along, in order, as I suppose, to cross 
said bridge, at which time a number of the regular 
troops first fired upon them. "James Marr." 

'•Medford, April 25, 1775. 
"I, Edward Thoroton Gould, of his majesty's own 
regiment of foot, being of lawful age, do testify and 
declare, that, on the evening of the 18th instant, under 
the orders of General Gacre, I embarked with the li^ht 
infantry and grenadiers of the line, commanded by 
Colonel Smith, and landed on the marshes of Cam- 
bridge, from whence we proceeded to Lexington. On 
our arrival at that place, we saw a body of provincial 
troops, armed, to the number of about sixty or seventy 
men. On our approach, they dispersed, and soon after 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 115 

firing began, but which party fired first I can not ex- 
actly say, as our troops rushed on shouting and huzza- 
ing previous to the firing, which was continued by our 
troops so long as any of the provincials were to be 
seen. From thence we marched to Concord. On a 
hill, near the entrance of the town, we saw another 
body of provincials assembled : the light-infantry com- 
panies were ordered i^ the hill to disperse them ; on 
our approach, they retreated toward Concord. The 
grenadiers continued the road under the hill toward 
the town. Six companies of light infantry were or- 
dered down to take possession of the bridge which the 
provincials retreated over ; the company I commanded 
was one. Three companies of the above detachment 
went forward about two miles. In the meantime, the 
provincial troops returned, to the nnmber of about three 
or four hundred. We drew up on the Concord side of 
the bridge ; the provincials came down upon us, upon 
which we enoaofed and crave the first fire. This was 
the first engagement after the one at Lexington. A 
continued firing from both parties lasted through the 
whole day. I myself was wounded at the attack of 
the bridge, and am nov/ treated with the greatest hu- 
manity, and taken all possible care of by the provin- 
cials at Medford. "Edward Thoroton Gould, 

''Lieut. King's Own Regiment^ 

" Province op Massachusetts Bay, ) 
" Middlesex County, April 25, 1775. ] 

"Lieutenant Thoroton Gould, aforenamed, personally 



116 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by 
him subscribed, before us, " Thad. Masson, 

"JosiAH Johnson, Simon Tvfts, Justices of the 
peace for the county aforesaid, quorum unusP 

" Province of Massachusetts Bay, Charlestown, ss. 

" I, Nathaniel Gorham, notary and tabelhon pubHc, 
by lawful authority dulj^ admitted and sworn, hereby 
certify to all whom it may or doth concern, that Thad- 
deus Masson, Josiah Johnson, and Simon Tufts, Esqrs., 
are three of his majesty's justices of the peace (^quorum 
unus) for the county of Middlesex ; and that full faith 
and credit is and ought to be given to their transactions 
as such, both in court and out. In witness whereof, I 
have hereunto affixed my name and seal, this twenty- 
sixth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand seven 
hundred and seventy-five. 

" Nathaniel Gorham, Notary Piihlic.'^ (L. S.) 

(All the above depositions are sworn to before jus- 
tices of the peace, and duly attested by notaries public, 
in manner of the last one.) 

" In Provincial Congress, Watertown, Ajml 26, 1775. 

" To the Inhabitants of Great Britain. 

*' Friends and Fellow-Subjects : Hostilities are 
at length commenced in this colony by the troops under 
the command of General Gage ; and it being of the 
greatest importance that an early, true, and authentic 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 117 

account of this inhuman proceeding, should be known 
to you, the Congress of this colony have transmitted 
the same, and, from want of a session of the Hon. Con- 
tinental Congress, think it proper to address you on the 
alarming occasion. 

" By the clearest depositions relative to this transac- 
tion, it will appear that, on the night preceding the 19th 
of April instant, a body of the king's troops, under the 
command of Colonel Smith, were secretly landed at 
Cambridge, with an apparent design to take or destroy 
the military and other stores, provided for the defence 
of this colony, and deposited at Concord ; that some 
inhabitants of the colony, on the night aforesaid, while 
travelling peaceably on the road between Boston and 
Concord, w^ere seized and greatly abused by armed 
men, who appeared to be officers of General Gage's 
army ; that the town of Lexington by these means was 
alarmed, and a company of the inhabitants mustered on 
the occasion ; that the regular troops, on their way to 
Concord, marched into the said town of Lexington,-and 
the said company on their approach began to disperse ; 
that notwithstanding this, the regulars rushed on with 
great violence, and first began hostilities, by firing on 
said Lexington company, whereby they killed eight, 
and wounded several others ; that the regulars contin- 
ued their fire until those of said company, who were 
neither killed nor wounded, had made their escape; 
that Colonel Smith, with the detachment, then marched 
to Concord, where a number of provincials were again 



118 OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

fired on by the troops, two of them killed and several 
wounded, before the provincials fired on them ; and that 
these hostile measures of the troops produced an en- 
gagement that lasted through the day, in which many 
of the provincials and more of the regular troops were 
killed and M'ounded. 

" To give a particular account of the ravages of the 
troops, as they retreated from Concord to Charlestown, 
w^ould be very difficult, if not impracticable. Let it suf- 
fice to say, that a great number of the houses on the 
road were plundered, and rendered unfit for use ; sev- 
eral were burnt; women in childbed were driven, by 
the soldiery, naked into the streets ; old men peaceably 
in their houses were shot dead ; and such scenes exhib- 
ited as would disgrace the annals of the most uncivil- 
ized nations. 

" These, brethren, are marks of ministerial vengeance 
against this colony, for refusing, with her sister-colonies, 
a submission to slavery ; but they have not yet de- 
tached us from our royal sovereign. We profess to 
be his loyal and dutiful subjects, and so hardly dealt 
with as we have been, are still ready, with our lives 
and fortunes, to defend his person, family, crown, and 
dignity. Nevertheless, to the persecution and tyranny 
of his cruel ministry we will not tamely submit : ap- 
pealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, we de- 
termine to die or be free. 

" We can not think that the honor, wisdom, and valor 
of Britons will suffer them to be long inactive specta- 



SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 119 

tors of measures in which they themselves are so deep- 
ly interested — measures pursued in opposition to the 
solemn protests of many noble lords, and expressed 
sense of conspicuous commoners, whose knowledge 
and virtue have long characterized them as some of 
the greatest men in the nation — measures executing 
contrary to the interest, petitions, and resolves of many 
large, respectable, and opulent counties, cities, and bor- 
oughs in Great Britain — measures highly incompatible 
wdth justice, but still pursued with a specious pretence 
of easing the nation of its burdens — measures which, 
if successful, must end in the ruin and slavery of Brit- 
ain, as well as the persecuted American colonies. 

"We sincerely hope that the great Sovereign of the 
universe, who hath so often appeared for the English 
nation, will support you in every rational and manly 
exertion, with these colonies, for saving it from ruin ; 
and that, in a constitutional connection with the mother- 
country, we shall soon be altogether a free and happy 
people. 

" Per order : 

" Joseph Warren, President, P. T" 



120 LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED 



NAMES OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED AT LEX- 
INGTON AND CONCORD. 

The following list of the names of those first mar- 
tyrs in the cause of American liberty is given in the 
eighteenth volume of the '* Massachusetts Historical 
Collections :" — 

Lexington. — Killed: Jonas Parker, Robert Monroe, Samnel 
Hadley, Jonathan Harrington, jr., Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Harrington, 
John Brown, Jeclediah Moore, John Raymond, Nathaniel Wyman, 
10. Wounded : John Robbins, Solomon Pierce, John Tidd, Joseph 
Comee, Ebenezer Monroe, jr., Thomas Winship, Natlianiel Farmer, 
Prince Estabrook, Jedediah Monroe, Francis Brown, 10. 

Concord. — Wounded : Charles Miles, Nathan Barrett, Abel Pres- 
cott, jr., Jonas Brown, George Meriot, 5. 

Cambridge. — Killed: William Marcy, Moses Richardson, John 
Hicks, Jason Russell, Jabez Wyman, Jason Winship, 6. Wounded: 
Samuel Whittemore, 1. Missing : Samuel Frost, Seth Russell, 2. 

Nerdham. — Killed : John Bacon, Elisha Mills, Amos IMills, Na- 
thaniel Chamberlain, Jonathan Parker, 5. Wounded: Eleazer ICings- 
bury, Tolman, 2. 

Su DBUR Y. — Killed : Josiah Haynes, Asahel Reed, 2. Wounded : 
Joshua Haynes, jr., 1. 

Acton. — Killed : Isaac Davis, Abner Hosmer, James Hay ward, 
3. Wounded: Luther Blanchard, 1. 

Bedford. — Killed: Jonathan Wilson, 1. Wounded: Job Lane, 1. 

WoBURN. — Killed : Daniel Thompson, Asahel Porter, 2. Wound- 
ed : George Reed, Jacob Bacon, Johnson, 3. 



AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 121 

Medford. — Killed: Heniy Putnam, William Polly, 2. 

Charlestown. — KiUccl : James Miller, Edward Barber, 2. 

Watertown. — Killed: Joseph Coolidge, 1. 

Framingham. — Wounded: Daniel Heminway, 1. 

Dedham. — Killed: Elias Haven, 1. Wounded: Israel Everett, 1. 

Stowb. — Wounded: Daniel Conant, 1. 

RoxBURY. — Missing: Elijah Seaver, 1. 

Brookline. — Killed: Isaac Gardner, 1. 

BiLLERiCA. — Wounded: John Nichols, Timothy Blanchard, 2. 

Chelmsford. — Wounded : Aaron Chamberlain, Oliver Barron, 2. 

Salem. — Killed: Benjamin Pierce, 1. 

Newton. — Wotmded: Noah Wiswell, 1. 

Danvers. — Killed: Henry Jacobs, Samiiel Cook, Ebenezer 
Goldthwait, George SoutliAvick, Benjamin Deland, Jotham Webb, 
Perley Putnam, 7. Wounded: Nathan Putnam, Dennis Wallace, 2. 
Missing : Joseph Bell, 1. 

Beverly. — Killed: Reuben Kerry me, 1. Wounded: Nathaniel 
Cleves, Samuel Woodbury, William Dodge, 3. 

Lynn. — Killed : Abednego Ramsdell, Daniel Townsend, William 
Flint, Thomas Hadley, 4. Wounded : Joshua Felt, Timothy Mon- 
roe, 2. Missing : Josiah Breed, 1. 

Total : Killed, 49 ; Wounded, 39 ; Missing, 5 = 93. 



122 REVOLUTIONARY ARTICLES 



A CATALOGUE 

OF 

REVOLUTIONARY ARTICLES 

IN 

THE POUGHKEEPSIE MUSEUM. 



The following- are amonor the Collection of Curiosi- 
ties in the Museum at Poughkeepsie : — 

ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Letter of "Washington to Governor Clinton, acquainting him 
of a design of the British to seize his person while residing 
at Poughkeepsie, and convey him to New York. Dated at 
Dobbs's Ferry, 1780. 

Letter of Washington to Brigadier-General Whiten on the 
subject of the removal of the troops from Trenton to Philadel- 
phia. Dated Plumpton Plains, New Jersey, 1777. 

Letter of Washington on the subject of promotions in the 
army. Dated 1779. 

Note of invitation from Washington to Dr. John Thomas to 
dinner. Dr. Thomas was surgeon of the Massachusetts line. 
Dated headquarters, Newburgh, 1780. 



IxM THE POUGIIKEEPSIE MUSEUM. 123 

Soldiers' discharge, signed by "Washington, 1782. 

Letter of the Marquis de Lafayette on the subject of fortify- 
ing the North river. Written to Governor Clinton in 1778. 

Letter of the Baron Steuben to Governor Clinton on the 
good appearance of the New York line of the army. Dated 
New Windsor, 1780. 

Letter of Lord Stirling to Governor Clinton on the discharge 
of the command of Major Wessenfells. Dated Albany, 1782. 

Letter of Clinton in reply. 

Resolution drawn up in Congress, and signed by John Han- 
cock, requesting the state of New York to erect a monument, 
at continental expense, to the memory of Brigadier-General 
Herkimer, killed on the Mohawk in 1777. Dated in Congress, 
1777. 

Letter of Captain Abraham Schenck, of Fishkill, containing 
an order for old linen rags, for lint, for the surgeon of his com- 
mand. Dated near Croton, 1776. 

Letter of General Heath relating to beacons in the high- 
lands. Dated Robintsori's House, 1780. 

Letter of General Heath on the condition of the prisoners 
confined in the Provost prison, at West Point. Dated High- 
lands, 1780. 

Letter of Captain Nathaniel Toms, describing a chase after 
the British over the Schuylkill in 1777. 

Journal of Lemuel Lyon, of Woodstock, Yermont, who 
served in the French and Indian war, in the expedition against 
Ticonderoga, commanded by General Abercrombie. The jour- 
nal commences on the 5th of April, 1758, and closes on the 
16th of November, 1759. 



124 REVOLUTIONARY ARTICLES 

Journal of Samuel Haws, one of the minute-men called out 
on the day of the battle of Lexington : commencing April 19, 
1775, and ending in January, 1776. 

Three original letters of Washington to Colonel Marinua 
Willet, relating to a secret expedition against Oswego in 1782. 
Dated at Newburgh headquarters, 1782. 

Letter of Joshua H. Smith, the person who conducted Andr6 
toward the British lines. Directed from Goshen jail to Gov- 
ernor Clinton, complaining of the state of his health and the 
closeness of his confinement. Dated 1780. 

Letter of Ezekiel Hyatt, of Crompond, Westchester county, 
to James Jackson, Esq., of Fishkill, in Dutchess county, in- 
forming him that Husson, a notorious cowboy and freebooter, 
had gone up to steal his horses, and was to have a hundred 
guineas if he got them. Dated Crompond, 1777. 

Letter of Lieutenant Lawrence on the subject of the depart- 
ure of the British fleet from the harbor of Newport. Dated 
Reading, 1780. 

Letter by the direction of Washington to Abraham Schenck 
and others, of Fishkill, to solicit shirts of the inhabitants of 
their precinct for the soldiers of the army, many of whom were 
utterly destitute of that article. Dated Kingston, 1780. 

Letter of Samuel Barker, while confined in the Provost 
prison. New York, to his wife in Westchester county. Dated 
Provost Prison, 1777. 

MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. 

Lock of Washington's hair — an unquestionable relic — de- 
rived from the late Judge Thompson, of the supreme court of 



IM THE POUGHKEEPSIE MUSEUM. 125 

the United States. Presented by his recent widow, the pres- 
ent Mrs. Lansing, of Poughkeepsie. 

Fragments of the first coffin of Washington. Presented by 
Lewis Grube, Esq., artist, Poughkeepsie. 

One of the points of the chevaux-de-frieze placed in the Hud- 
son river, near New Windsor, in 1780, to prevent the passage 
of the British ships. It was raised accidentally by the anchor 
of a sloop commanded by Captain Abraham Elting, in New 
Paltiz, Ulster county, in 1836. It is pointed with iron, and 
weighs some hundreds of pounds. 

Wooden camp candlestick, used in General Smallwood's bri- 
gade while encamped at Fishkill, in Dutchess county, in the 
Revolution. From Jackson Diddle, Esq., Fishkill. 

Homespun linen rifle-shirt, worn by Captain Abraham Dur- 
yea at the battle of Long Island. From Charles Robinson, 
Esq., Fishkill. 

Sheet of stamp-parchment, containing the stamps and duties 
of the stamp-act. 

Sword of Captain Archibald Campbell, killed at the skir- 
mish at Ward's house, in Weschester county, i:i 1776. Cap- 
tain Campbell was the commanding officer of the British party. 
From his grandson, Captain Archibald Campbell, of Pawlings, 
Dutchess county. 

Sword of one of Lee's legion, of Virginia. It has inscribed, 
on one side of the blade, " Victory or Death !" — on the oppo- 
site side, " Grenadiers of Virginia." 

Tooth of Miss Jane M'Crea, found lying in her coffin when 
her remains were disinterred and removed to Fort Edward in 
1824, by Mr. George Barker, of Sandy Hill, and presented by 



126 REVOLUTIONARY ARTICLES 

him to tlie late Captain Mattlicw Dan vers, of Sandy Hill, and 
to the collection by his widow, Mrs. Mary Danvers, of Pough- 
keepsic. 

Iron-pipe tomahawk, found on the battle-field of Saratoga. 
From Van Wyck Brinkerhoff, Esq., of Fishkill. 

Cannon-rammer, taken with Burgoyne at Saratoga. Pur- 
chased, with a lot of other " lumber" (sold at West Point by 
order of the government, after the Revolution), by Joseph 
Jackson, Esq., and others, of Fishkill. From Van Wyck Brin- 
kerhoff, Esq., of Fishkin. 

Knapsack of Captain David Uhl, a captain of militia in the 
Revolution, and worn by him when he joined his regiment at 
Harlem, in 1776. It is made of homespun linen. From his 
daughter, Mrs. Henry Abell, of Union Vale, Dutchess county. 

Hessian camp-kettle, dug up on the battle-field of Benning- 
ton. By Mr. Charles Hoag, of Dover, Dutchess county. 

Iron spur, found on the battle-field of the Cowpens. It is 
much rusted, and is believed to have belonged to one of Tarle- 
ton's men. From B. J. Lossing, Esq., of Poughkeepsie. 

United States musket, found on the line of the retreat of 
the Americans from the battle-ground at Hubbardton, Ver- 
mont. It has the date of 1774 on the breech. From B. J. 
Lossing, Esq. 

Collection of relics from all the battle-fields of the Revolu- 
tion. From B. J. Lossing, Esq. 

Cocked hat, worn by Lemuel Lyon on board the tea-ship in 
Boston harbor. The wearer was the writer of t|ie first Jour- 
nal in this volume. From his relative, Mr. J. Colby, of New 
York city. 



IN THE POUGHKEEPSIE MUSEUM. 127 

Surgical instruments of Dr. John Thomas, a regimental sur- 
geon in the Revolution. They were used in several of the 
principal battles of the war. From his son, Mr. Thomas, 
of Poughkeepsie. 

Original portrait of Dr. John Thomas. 

Broken United States bayonet, found on the battle-ground 
of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina. By Mr. Charles Ney, 
of Amenia, Dutchess county. 

Bayonet of John Woodin, a continental soldier. The point 
of this instrument was broken off in the wall of the fort at 
Stony Point, when in the body of a British soldier. Presented 
by a relative. 

A Spanish dollar, taken from the cavity of the hip-bone of a 
skeleton dug up at Bemis's heights, Saratoga, in 1841. With 
it were five other dollars and an English guinea, and also a 
fragment of leather, supposed to be the remains of a purse or 
pocket-book. From Mrs. John Wing, of Washington, Dutch- 
ess county. 

English musket, taken in a skirmish from a foraging-party 
of the British in Westchester county, in the Revolution, by 
Captain Abraham Meriot, of Newcastle, Westchester county, 
commander of a party of American militia. From Mr. John 
Townsend, of Poughkeepsie. 

Tory musket, hidden during the whole period of the Revolu- 
tion, in a hollow tree, in Dover, Dutchess county, to prevent 
its being seized by the committee-men and used against the 
king. 

English musket, brought off from the battle-field of White 
Plains by Colonel Abraham Humphrey, of Smallwood's bri- 
gade. Presented by the late Colonel Humphrey Cornell, of 
Beekman, Dutchess county. 



128 REVOLUTIONARY ARTICLES. 

Fragments of human bones from the battle-field of Red Bank. 
From B. J. Lossing, Esq., of Poughkeepsie. 

Piece of one of the palmetto-logs of old Fort Moultrie, in 
Charleston harbor. From B. J. Lossing, Esq. 

Horn of Lieutenant Charles Wallace, of the 1st Royal High- 
land regiment, curiously engraved with the names and dis- 
tances of all the fortified posts from Quebec to Albany, together 
with the name and rank of the wearer. It was obtained from 
an Indian after the battle of Saratoga. 

Metal button, ploughed up on Quaker hill, Dutchess county, 
where a division of the American army encamped in the Revo- 
lution. It has the letters " U. S. A." raised on the surface. 
A number of other articles belonging to the camp have been 
found in the neighborhood. A long line of the stone fireplaces 
of the soldiers still remain. 

Spontoon of Lieutenant Alfred *Yan Wyck, of Fishkill, 
Dutchess county, used in hunting the cowboys in Fishkill 
mountain, in the Revolution. By his son, Theodorus Van 
Wyck, Esq., of Fishkill Hook, who remembers to have been 
shown, within the last forty years, by an individual then living, 
the bones of a " skinner," or cowboy, still lying uuburied in a 
defile of the mountains. 

ICr Also, a large collection of other curiosities. 



THE END. 



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